Under-21 match/Rep of Ireland 0 Portugal 2: Portugal's under-21 side emphatically beat the Republic of Ireland in their opening Uefa Championships qualifier at Turner's Cross last night. A goal in either half set the Portuguese in motion and Don Givens's youngsters never really looked like pegging them back.

With England beating Montenegro 3-0 in the other game in the group last night, it looks an uphill qualification battle for Ireland already.

The Irish suffered an early set-back when they went behind in the fourth minute.

Joao Moreira's right wing cross was uncontested and Paulo Machado stole in unmarked to flick a header past the exposed Darren Randolph in the Irish goal.

Ireland first penetrated the Portuguese defence in the 27th minute when Stephen Gleeson played in Billy Clarke and he drilled in a low cross that got caught under Adam Rooney's feet.

Randolph was then forced to make two saves in a minute to deny Veloso and Vierinha coming up to half-time.

The Irish keeper denied Machado four minutes in the second half but was powerless to prevent Veloso firing home an excellent second goal for his side in the 54th minute.

Owen Garvan tested Portuguese keeper Ricardo Batista with a well struck effort from 25 yards in the 67th minute after good work by Richard Keogh and Rooney.

Rooney then set-up sub Michael Collins four minutes later but his shot was straight at Batista, who saved with his feet.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Randolph; Nolan, Keogh, O'Dea, O'Halloran, Gleeson (Collins 68), Cregg (Garvan 46), Quinn; O'Brien; Rooney (Sammon 74), Clarke.

PORTUGAL: Batista; V Fernandes, Da Costa, Coelho, Antunes; Veloso (Coimbra 84), Pele; M Fernandes, Vieirinha, Moreira (Cicero 88), Machado (Barbosa 81).

Referee: Manuel Grafe (Germany).