Quaresma flights it into the box and it is nodded behind, but the referee calls an end to proceedings!
90' +4
R. Arzumanyan gets yellow.
Quaresma wins a free kick on the right as Arzumanyan catches him with an elbow. That should be it for the hosts!
90' +2
PIZZELLI! The Brazilian-born forward is invited to shoot from the top of the box, with Pepe continually backing off, but his effort is, once more, straight at Rui Patricio.
90' +1
William Carvalho gets yellow.
We are into the first of an additional four minutes.
89'
OFF THE POST! Quaresma's corner from the right is attacked at the near post by Eder, and the striker is denied a goal by the woodwork! It is not his night.
88'
William Carvalho enters the game and replaces Nani.
Final change for Portugal as William Carvalho replaces Nani.
87'
SARKISOV! The substitute steps inside of Pepe with ease on the left side of the area, but his strike at goal is straight into the grasp of Rui Patricio.
85'
WHAT A MISS! Eder lays the ball out to the right for Ronaldo, and the Real Madrid man brings it into the box before rolling a pass across the face of goal for the Braga striker. He meets it at the near post but his touch is so delicate that he doesn't direct it onto the target! That should have been two!
84'
M. Pizzelli enters the game and replaces K. Mkrtchyan.
83'
Mkhitaryan attempts to play Movsisyan in behind the defence with a pass down the channel. He puts too much behind it, though, and Rui Patricio sees it out for a goal kick.
Minute
Description
81'
Armenia continue to sit back and encourage Portugal to come forward. The hosts are in no rush to do so, though, but a second goal would surely make them far more comfortable.
79'
Portugal do not need to take any risks now, with that goal from Ronaldo giving them a late lead. If they invite Armenia forward then they will be able to pick them off on the counterattack in these latter stages.
77'
A. Sarkisov enters the game and replaces A. Yedigaryan.
Edigaryan has had to go off due to injury, and his replacement is Sarkisov. Armenia need a drastic change in their gameplan if they are to salvage something from this game. They've offered nothing in terms of attacking intent in the second half.
75'
Armenia wina free kick on the right and Manucharyan bends it into the centre. His delivery is nodded away by the first defender, though. The visitors have been disappointing from set plays at both ends.
73'
STAT: That goal makes Ronaldo the highest-scoring player in European Championship fixtures (qualifying and finals) with 23 goals! Another record broken by the Real Madrid man.
72'
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored a goal for Portugal!
GOOOOOOOAAAAL!! PORTUGAL BREAK THE DEADLOCK! It is far from the prettiest goal, but Ronaldo won't mind! Quaresma has an instant impact as he pulls a save from Berezovski. He parries it into the danger area, where Nani darts in as Taron Voskanyan hesitates rather than clear the ball. It falls to Ronaldo inside the six-yard box, and he pokes it home at the second attempt!
70'
Ricardo Quaresma enters the game and replaces Danny.
Portugal make their second change of the night, with Quaresma coming on in place of Danny.
69'
Danny gets yellow.
Danny is the latest player to pick up a yellow card for a cynical challenge in the centre of the park.
68'
Another effort from Ronaldo, and this time he does find the target! However, his strike from 25 yards isn't a clean one, and Berezovski has a fairly simple save to make when diving to his right.
67'
Ronaldo tries to send the free kick below the wall, but yet again it is blocked and fails to test Berezovski!
66'
Portugal win a free kick in a great position as Haroyan deliberately blocks Ronaldo as he looks to cut inside, 20 yards from goal.
65'
The Seleccao win a corner on the left, which Danny takes once more. His delivery finds Ronaldo but his flick-on is cleared away on the far side of the area by Hayrapetyan.
63'
CHANCE! Hayrapetyan's corner finds Taron Voskanyan in space at the back post. He sends his header down into the ground and it bounces up to a comfortable height for Rui Patricio to hold onto it!
62'
E. Manucharyan enters the game and replaces G. Ghazaryan.
There is a sub for the visitors before the corner is taken, though, with Ghazaryan coming off to be replaced by Manucharyan.
61'
Mkhitaryan goes on another dancing run through the centre of the pitch and this time he draws a foul from Tiago. Armenia take their time, before Ghazaryan wins his side a corner over on the left.
59'
OFF THE BAR! Portugal almost find that opening goal! Armenia fail to cope with the hosts' latest onslaught, and they want them to put the ball out of play as Taron Voskanyan stays down in the box. They don't with Bosingwa sending a cross in from the right which Danny heads towards goal. His effort crashes off the bar and Berezovski outjumps Ronaldo to the second ball!
58'
Armenia's five-man defence continues to stand up to whatever Portugal throw at them. The Seleccao need to return to using the wings, as the centre of the park is far too congested for them to create anything.
56'
Éder enters the game and replaces Hélder Postiga.
Fernando Santos has seen enough, so he brings Eder on for Postiga as his side continue to look for the opening goal.
54'
Nani comes in off the left flank before firing a shot at goal from in excess of 30 yards. It is a poor idea, and his execution is equally as bad with the ball swerving far wide of the post.
53'
Bosingwa receives the ball on the right and he hooks a terrible, high ball to the far side of the box. Fortunately for him, Nani is there to keep it in play, but his volley into the centre is too close to Berezovski, who claims it.
52'
Moutinho slides a pass into the feet of Postiga and the striker shields it from his marker before turning to face goal. He dinks the ball behind the defence for Ronaldo, but the captain was in an offside position so play is pulled back.
50'
Nani flights a free kick in from the right, but once more the delivery is poor. The ball flies into the arms of Berezovski as he comes from his line to claim it and he launches a break with a quick throw. The attack fizzles out around the Seleccao's penalty area following a stray pass, though.
49'
Tiago gets on the ball in a central position and looks to lift a pass in behind the defence for Ronaldo. It is overhit, though, and the bounce takes it on through to Berezovski.
48'
Mkhitaryan gives the ball away inside his own half and Danny brings it inside from the left. He tries to clip the ball into the box but sends it straight into the midriff of Haroyan, and Armenia eventually clear.
46'
We are back underway!
45' +1
There are just a few seconds of added time played before the referee calls an end to the first half.
44'
Armenia are showing great quality in possession when they look to move forward, and Mkhitaryan goes to ground under a late challenge from Bosingwa. Somehow, though, the former Chelsea right-back manages to stay out of the book!
42'
Pepe gets yellow.
Pepe is the next player into the book! The centre-back sees Movsisyan knock the ball past him on the left, and rather then let him race onto it he pulls the Armenia striker down. He pleads his innocence, but it is for nothing.
41'
That is a woeful effort from Moutinho! The midfielder tried his luck from 25 yards out an struck the ball far over the roof of the net.
40'
Portugal manage to maintain the pressure with the ball being sent back into the centre, where it drops for Postiga. He attempts to shoot on the spin and sees his effort get deflected wide of the target.
39'
Moutinho bends in a cross from deep on the right and Danny meets it at the back post. His header loops up into the centre and as Postiga challenges the second ball he is pushed from behind by Taron Voskanyan. He drops to ground but the referee does not feel it worthy of a penalty.
38'
The crowd are becoming fairly quiet inside the Estadio do Algarve. They have every right to not be impressed with their side's display so far, and they will be keen to see a drastic improvement in the second half if it remains goalless at the break.
36'
Tiago gets yellow.
Mkhitaryan looks to break down the right and is halted by a two-footed challenge from Tiago. The referee instantly blows his whistle but it is only a yellow card for the midfielder.
35'
Good refereeing to go back to a tackle in the previous phase of play that warranted a yellow card. Edigaryan is the recipient for his challenge on Nani.
34'
A. Yedigaryan gets yellow.
Moutinho sends a pass out to the right corner which Ronaldo manages to keep in play. He gets his head up before clipping a cross back to the Monaco man, who then sends a header over the top.
33'
FACT: Portugal were 1-0 winners when the pair last met, in qualification for Euro 2008, with a solitary strike from Hugo Almeida proving to be the difference.
31'
DANNY AGAIN! Guerreiro once more proves impressive down the left, teeing the Zenit man up for a shot from the top of the box. It takes a flick off Haroyan which looks sure to send it into the corner, but another touch deflects the ball out for a corner!
30'
The longer this game remains goalless, the more confident Armenia will become. They've looked a little shaky at the back but have proven that they can pose a threat on the counterattack. Portugal look set for another difficult night at home.
28'
Ronaldo does send it towards the target, but once more he fires it into the wall! A wasted chance.
27'
Ghazaryan is penalised for a foul on Moutinho 30 yards from goal. The Armenian didn't seem to do anything wrong, with the midfielder simply jumping over the back of him! Nevertheless, Portugal get the free kick and Ronaldo will surely go for goal from it once more.
25'
A couple displays of poor communication around the box see two chances for Portugal evaporate. Moutinho hits a complete air shot and Armenia immediately counter. Mkhitaryan holds it up before sliding a pass through to Hovhanissyan, whose effort on goal is blocked by Rui Patricio! He might have been better off squaring that.
23'
RONALDO GOES CLOSE! Arzumanyan plays a short pass inside his half and Portugal pounce before instantly feeding Ronaldo. He beats Haroyan with a simple stepover but Berezovski is equal to his powerful left-footed shot! The rebound falls kindly for the Real Madrid man, and he smashes it wide of the target.
22'
Moutinho lofts a high ball behind the defence and into the box. Danny makes the right run but he is unable to control it as Arzumanyan leaps over him, completely smothering him. There are some claims for a penalty, but nothing is awarded.
20'
DANNY! Guerreiro pushes forward on the left yet again, but this time his cross is poor. However, although he rolls it along the ground at the top of the box Edigaryan fails to clear it. Danny pounces on the loose ball but fires his shot straight into Berezovski's hands.
18'
Mkhitaryan wins a corner which he takes, from out on the right, himself. His delivery is met by the head of Taron Voskanyan, but he fails to generate enough power on his header to worry Rui Patricio, who holds it comfortably.
17'
Moutinho clips a cross towards the back post and Armenia just about manage to fumble it clear. They are coming under a lot of pressure at the back.
16'
Mkhitaryan takes the free kick from 20 yards, and he finds a gap in the wall as Bosingwa breaks away by jumping to his right. There is a slight touch off the right-back which sends the ball close enough to Rui Patricio for him to make a save!
14'
Ricardo Carvalho gets yellow.
What a run from Mkhitaryan! The Dortmund man picks up the ball in midfield and bears down on goal, catching the hosts short at the back. He cuts in front of Ricardo Carvalho and the Monaco man brings him to ground, earning himself a yellow card.
13'
Ronaldo picks up the ball on the right and looks to surge into the box. He darts between a number of red shirts before stumbling to ground. He claims there was a touch from Taron Voskanyan, but the referee is unmoved.
11'
Danny does brilliantly to chase a lost cause on the left and earn his side a corner from it. He bends it in and it is flicked on to Ricardo Carvalho at the back post, and the centre-back nods it back into the danger area. Arzumanyan intervenes, though, and just about does enough to clear the threat.
10'
Ronaldo tries his luck by going for goal from a free kick, 25 yards out in a central position. He strikes the ball with plenty of power, but it clips the wall before being cleared away.
9'
Armenia are indeed defending with a back five, hoping to make it difficult for Portugal to use their quality in the wide areas.
7'
Nani whips a free kick from the right into the box, and Tiago connects with it on the penalty spot. He fails to keep his header down, though, blazing it high over the top.
6'
Ronaldo is picked out in the box, finding space behind Hayrapetyan and controlling the ball exquisitely. He pulls the trigger with his second touch but skews his shot into the centre of the box, where Danny is unable to make anything more of it.
4'
Movsisyan wins Armenia a free kick out on the right and Mkhitaryan delivers it into the box. It is a poor cross, though, and Ronaldo heads it away at the near post. The visitors will need to make the most of those opportunities tonight.
2'
Portugal have put some great pressure on the visitors in the early stages. Guerreiro races forward on the left and floats a cross towards Ronaldo at the back post. Hayrapetyan manages to get his head on it but the ball falls for Danny, who fires wide of the target.
1'
We are underway!
Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of tonight's Euro 2016 qualifying match between Portugal and Armenia. The Seleccao suffered a shock defeat at home to Albania on the first matchday, but they will be keen to build upon the win over Denmark that followed. There's also the chance for Cristiano Ronaldo to break yet another record, but more on that in a few moments! My name is Tom Webber, and I will be guiding you through the action.
Armenia have never beaten Portugal before. The two nations have met on four occasions previously, with there being two draws alongside the Seleccao’s two victories. Bernard Challandes will be hopeful that his side can replicate Albania's achievements in Portugal, adding to their single point earned so far in qualifying.
But back to Ronaldo! Should the Real Madrid man score one goal tonight he would become the all-time highest-scoring player in European Championship games (qualifying and finals), surpassing Jon Dahl Tomasson and Hakan Sukur who both scored 22 goals.
The line-ups have been announced, so let's see how to the two teams will be shaping up.
Portugal (4-2-3-1): Rui Patricio; Bosingwa, Pepe, R. Carvalho, Guerreiro; Tiago, Moutinho; Nani, Danny, Ronaldo; Postiga.
Portugal bench: Lopes, Beto, Alves, Fonte, Eder, Vieirinha, W. Carvalho, Andre Gomes, Joao Mario, Tiago Gomes, Quaresma, Cedric.
Challandes will be delighted to have Henrikh Mkhitaryan available again, as the Borussia Dortmund man sat out the last set of international fixtures due to injury. It is expected that Armenia's back three will primarily be a quintet of defenders in an attempt to frustrate Ronaldo and Nani at the Estadio do Algarve.
The teams are making their way out onto the pitch for the national anthems.
Armenia will be wearing their traditional all-red kit tonight, with Portugal in their alternate colours of white shirts and dark blue shorts. The pre-match formalities are almost over, so kick off will be upon us shortly.
Fernando Santos hands Raphael Guerreiro a debut at left-back, with Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho and Jose Bosingwa, making his first international appearance in four years, supplying plenty of experience in the defence. Their man threat, of course, will surely come from captain Cristiano Ronaldo.
HALF TIME - Portugal 0-0 Armenia: It is all level at the break with the Seleccao struggling for a consistent tempo despite dominating possession in front of their own fans. From 15 attempts on goal they have hit the target just twice, while Mkhitaryan and Hovhanissyan have both pulled saves from Rui Patricio. It is all still to play for in the second half, where Portugal will need to be vastly improved. Be sure to join me for it in 10 minutes!
Welcome back! The teams are out, so the second half will commence momentarily.
FULL TIME - Portugal 1-0 Armenia: The Seleccao were forced to work hard, but Ronaldo proved to be the decisive factor as his second-half strike was enough to earn his country all three points. It was far from a convincing performance from Fernando Santos' men, though, and the coach will surely be expecting further improvements.
That is it from me, Tom Webber, for this evening. Thanks a lot for joining me.
Commentary
More…