Portugal 1 Northern Ireland 1NORTHERN IRELAND were 10 minutes away from a famous victory over a Portugal side 114 places above them in the Fifa rankings, but still managed to spoil Cristiano Ronaldo's big day with a battling point in Porto.

Michael O’Neill’s men took a shock lead on the half-hour when Niall McGinn capped a fine counter-attack.

Ronaldo, and his illustrious team-mates, dominated possession and chances both before and after that but had to wait until the 80th minute for Helder Postiga to turn home a scrappy equaliser.

A point will be celebrated by a Northern Ireland side who were held at home by lowly Luxembourg last time out, but their bravery in the face of an attacking onslaught from Ronaldo and company so nearly yielded even more.

O’Neill sent out a compact 4-5-1 formation, resisting the temptation to start with Dean Shiels as a link between midfield and attack.

With an absentee list in double figures, there were recalls for Corry Evans, Oliver Norwood and McGinn.

Ronaldo threatened twice early on but after 30 minutes the Porto crowd was stunned into silence. Evans launched the ball up front and Kyle Lafferty did well to get it down to his feet and under control.

The Portuguese were caught napping and when McGinn raced forward into space, Lafferty found him with the perfect pass and he finished cooly.

Relentless Portuguese pressure eventually created the equaliser in the 80th minute, the previously off-colour Postiga stabbing home in a goalmouth scramble.

Substitute Eder nodded a deep cross back across goal, with Nani touching it on to the striker, who picked himself up from an awkward position to fire past Carroll.

PORTUGAL: Rui Patricio, Joao Pereira, Bruno Alves, Pepe, Miguel Lopes, Veloso, Ruben Micael, Ronaldo, Joao Moutinho, Nani, Postiga.

NORTHERN IRELAND:Carroll, McGivern, Cathcart, Jonathan Evans, Hughes, Baird, Davis, Corry Evans, McGinn, Norwood, Kyle Lafferty.

Referee: Thorsten Kinhoefer (Germany)