Rain wreaks havoc Top-placed Thais in India-Bangladesh eye golden finish Test SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 16 17 Ronaldo hits third hat-trick European qualifiers YEREVAN: Portugal moved five points clear at the top of European Championship qualifying Group I yesterday after Cristiano Ronaldo’s third successive hat-trick secured a crucial 3-2 win in Armenia. The Portuguese, who played the last 30 minutes down to 10 men, Maloney frustrates were given a real scare by an Armenian side who had picked up just a single point in their first four group games. Ireland once again The hosts were under new management after former Swiss coach Bernard Challandes stood down following their last match-a 2-1 DUBLIN: Shaun Maloney was the Republic of Ireland’s nemesis once more as Scotland delivered a massive blow to their hosts’ Euro 2016 qualifying defeat against Albania. qualification hopes with a 1-1 draw at Lansdowne Road yesterday. Record caps holder (131 appearances) Sargis Hovsepyan is now in The Chicago Fire midfielder’s second-half strike took a massive deflec- the hot seat and his influence appeared to have the desired effect as tion off Ireland skipper John O’Shea to cancel out Jon Walters’ first-half Armenia took a 14th-minute lead through Brazilian-born midfielder goal, and the result leaves Ireland five points behind Group D leaders Marcos Pizzelli. Poland in fourth place. But Fernando Santos’ Portugal levelled just before the half-hour However, the point will be welcomed by Gordon Strachan’s men, who mark via a predictable source, with World Player of the Year Ronaldo knew avoiding defeat would make Ireland’s task of going to France next converting a penalty. summer incredibly difficult. The Real Madrid superstar turned the game on its head in the Neither manager gave much away in the build-up to this game, keep- 55th minute. He got his double to put the 2012 semi-finalists in front ing their selection cards close to their chest, and it became clear why for the first time and just three minutes later, the 30-year-old sealed when the teams were announced. his third hat-trick in as many games-after scoring two in succession For Ireland, nothing less than victory would do, and the inclusion of for Real Madrid at the end of the domestic season-to put Portugal 3- Jeff Hendrick, Walters and Daryl Murphy in the starting line-up was 1 in front. unexpected. But after midfielder Tiago’s red card, the Portuguese had a numer- Robbie Keane was only on the bench after two of his cousins were ical disadvantage, which allowed the hosts back into the match. killed in a tragic accident earlier in the week, while Aiden McGeady, Hrayr Mkoyan struck to reduce the deficit after 72 minutes to give James McClean and Shane Long were left out as O’Neill plumped for strength and fitness. Charlie Mulgrew started in central defence for the Armenians hope, but Portugal held out fairly comfortably. Scotland despite only recently returning from injury, while there was no Portugal sit top of Group I on 12 points with Denmark-who host room for Ikechi Anya or Andy Robertson, with Matt Richie also making a Serbia late yesterday — and Albania both on seven. Armenia first start. remain rooted to the foot of the table with one point from five Just as they had in Glasgow last November, both sets of fans created matches. one of the best atmospheres most observers had seen and the home In Warsaw, Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski scored a team justified their promise to start the tie with intensity. hat-trick in the space of four minutes late in the game as Poland beat Steven Naismith and Steven Fletcher had the best chances in the Georgia 4-0 in Euro 2016 qualifying yesterday. opening 10 minutes, but neither troubled Shay Given in the Ireland goal- Poland, who lead qualifying Group D, were in front in Warsaw and the efforts were against the general run of play with Ireland’s mid- thanks to a 62nd-minute strike by Arkadiusz Milik before captain field and wing backs controlling the game. Lewandowski doubled their lead in the 89th minute. There was passion and patience in Ireland’s play, with Murphy hold- He then added another in the 92nd minute and completed a ing possession well up front, while Wes Hoolahan, James McCarthy, remarkable treble in the third minute of stoppage time to put the Robbie Brady and Seamus Coleman pushed forward at every attempt. seal on a handsome win. The home support were growing in confidence but Coleman’s cross- It is believed to be the second fastest hat-trick in the history of ing in advanced positions was disappointing and it appeared Ireland European Championship qualifying, bettered only by Arif Erdem, would not be rewarded for their endeavor. who scored three in three minutes for Turkey against Northern A Murphy header was palmed over by David Marshall but the break- through finally arrived from the resulting corner on 38 minutes, Ireland in the qualifying campaign for Euro 2000. although goalscorer Walters was in an offside position. Lewandowski has now scored seven times in the campaign-the Brady’s corner was nodded goalward by Murphy, but it took a nick off 26-year-old scored four times in the second half in a 7-0 win over Walters and Marshall’s smart save merely pushed the ball back to Walters Gibraltar last September. who prodded home. He now has 26 international goals. Poland are top of Group D Ireland almost added a second just before the break, when a wicked YEREVAN: Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo gestures after scoring the second goal with 14 points from six games, three points clear of Scotland and Brady corner bounced in the six-yard box, but there was no player in against Armenia during the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between four ahead of Germany before the world champions’ game against green there to finish it off and James Morrison cleared the danger. —AFP Armenia and Portugal. — AP Gibraltar late yesterday. — AFP.