A forgettable performance from Portugal but the narrow victory edges them closer to a Euro 2008 berth. Hugo Almeida scored the only goal of the game shortly before the interval. However, with Luiz Filipe Scolari back on the bench for Portugal's final group match against Finland on Wednesday, the squad knows they will have to produce an improved performance to avoid the unthinkable. A point is still required to make sure stars such as Ronaldo, Quaresma, Nani, Simao, Deco and company can strut their stuff in Austira and Switzerland next summer.

 Full time whistle goes. Portugal win 1-0.

Three minutes of stoppage time to be played.

Mistake by an Armenian in midfield lets in Ronaldo and its two against one, but the winger overhits his pass to Makukula and the chance is gone.

Manuel Fernandes tries his luck from distance but his effort goes wide.

Portugal snap out of their lethargy with Nani and Veloso going on enterprising runs to set up a shooting chance for Ronaldo. He hits his effort well but straight at the keeper who pouches the ball.

Makukula produces an acrobatic corss with an overhead kick and Ronaldo appears to be pushed in the back as he sends his header over but the referee waves away half-hearted appeals for a penalty.

Portugal have practically failed to test the opposition goalkeeper in the second 45 minutes and the boos and whistles ring out around the stadium.

A rare lapse by Bosingwa lets in the opposition forward who Bosingwa subsequently fouls to pick up a yellow card. More worrying for Portugal is that the right-back injured himself in the challenge and Portugal could be reduced to ten men for the last ten minutes.

Portugal make their third substitution. Nani comes on for Simao.

Now it's time for the other full-back Caneira to go on a good run. He wins a throw-in and takes it quickly for Ronaldo but the Portugal captain is crowded out in the Armenia box.

Another super run from Bosingwa creates danger but goalkeeper Berezovski stretches high to claim the ball well.

Yellow card for Arzumanyan for an ugly foul on Ronaldo.

Makukula comes on for the goalscorer Almeida. The Maritimo man enjoyed a spectacular debut when coming on against Kazakhstan in the last match. Portugal need an injection of similar energy tonight.

Dangerous cross into the Portugal box is well cleared by the towering Bruno Alves. Portugal have been desperately dissapointing so far in the second half and are playing with fire... Any loss of concentration could prove extremely costly.

Caneira is having a game to forget and a clumsy foul earns the Valencia defender a yellow card.

Bosingwa again shows his attacking nature with a run and cross down the right flank that wins a corner.

Flavio Murtoso has seen enough. Quaresma comes off to be replaced by Manuel Fernandes.

Portugal are again finding it hard to penetrate into the well-organised visitors' defence. A long-range shot from an Armenian flies over, but the some of the restless crowd are starting to make their discontent known. Nani, Fernandes and Makukula all warm up.

Mor bright play from Quaresma. A twisting run and one-two with Simao releases the winger in the box but the Porto flanker is crowded out by a cluster of defenders.

Quaresma hits a shot with the outside of his foot that forces the goalkeper into a sprawling save. The danger isn't cleared and Ronaldo sets up Maniche in a good shooting position but the midfielder's effort is high and wide.

Second half starts with Armenia on the attack. A couple of crosses rain into the Portugal cross but the defence deals with them well.

Without playing anywhere near their best Portugal got the all important breakthrough close to half time through a fine Hugo Almeida header. The Werder Bremen front man is enjoying a memorable season, and with the likes of Ronaldo, Quaresma, Simao and Nani ready to provide an endless supply of quality crosses, have Portugal finally solved their problem centre-forward position? At the back Portugal have looked shaky, underlining the importance of the missing Ricardo Carvalho.

Half-time whistle goes.

Armenia close to a quick equaliser. Again the visitors break dangerously down the right flank and an excellent cross is header over by Melkonyan.

Ronaldo bursts down the right and crosses dangerously again but the ball is cleared.

GOAL for Portugal!!! Bosingwa swings in a cross from the right flank and Hugo Almeida produces a textbook header that gives the keeper no chance.

Good run by Quaresma but once again the cross is competently dealt with by the Armenian rearguard.

Portugal have enjoyed most of the possession but after coming close to scoring twice early on they have struggled to create chances. Armenia continue to look a real threat on their occaisional breaks.

Armenia close to scoring again. Terrible back pass by Veloso lets in an Armenia attacker. Ricardo races out of his net and his diving challenge brings down the Armenia forward. The visitors appeal furiously for a penalty but the referee waves away the protests.

Almeida wins a flick-on in midfield to send Simao racing in on goal but the former Benfica captain is denied by a brilliant last-ditch tackle.

Real danger again for Portugal. Armenia break quickly, Ricardo races out of his area and is lobbed but the ball drops past the post and Bosingwa heads out for a corner.

Typical Quaresma cross with the outside of the his foot is just too high for Almeida and Ronaldo.

Ronaldo switches flanks again and is immediately surrounded by four defenders. Even so he wins a corner, which comes to nothing.

Good break by Bosingwa ends with a desperate clearance from the FC Porto defender's cross. The ball falls to Quaresma who tries his luck from distance but the ball flies wide of the post.

Another good break by Armenia ends with a fine shot from the edge of the box, forcing Ricardo into a sharp diving stop. Portugal's defence is looking far from solid...

Quaresma looks much more confident than in his recent games for Portugal. A good dribble and burst of speed wins a free-kick near the corner of the Armenia box. Veloso crosses but the ball is cleared.

Portugal are passing the ball around nicely but the Armenians show good concentration to block all avenues towards goal.

Dangerous break by Armenia and a low cross forces Ricardo to clear with his feet.

Free kick won 30 metres out by Ronaldo. No guesses for who picks up the ball to take a pop at goal. Ronaldo's shot hits the wall and the danger passes.

Ronaldo is all over the pitch. Now on the other flank the Manchester United man whips over a dangerous cross that almost goes directly into the net.

Ronaldo wins a dangerous free-kick near the edge of the box. Simao sends over a pinpoint cross and Ronaldo heads over from 6 metres. Great chance goes begging...

Ronaldo feeds Quaresma who crosses into the box for Almeida but the striker is crowded out by defenders and sends a weak header looping into the goalkeeper's hands.

Electric start to the match. Another good break by the visitors forces Bosingwa into a good clearence.

Ronaldo is set free and goes on a supersonic sprint to the goal-line, crosses into the box and the ball is cleared superbly by an Armenian defender  with Almeida lurking.

Armenia are not limiting themselves to defence. A break down the right flank forces Veloso to concede a corner, but the ball is easily cleared.

Portugal hit the bar!!! Great work by Veloso and Almeida frees Simao one on one against the keeper. The Atletico Madrid winger hits his left-foot shot against the bar and the ball is cleared for a corner.

Early scare for Portugal. An Armenia cross finds Karamyan who stabs his effort wide of the post.

Welcome to a cold Leiria 120 km north of the capital Lisbon. A win tonight against Armenia will leave Portugal needing just one point from their final match at home to Finalnd on Wednesday. Starting line-ups:

Portugal:
Ricardo, Bosingwa, Fernando Meira, Bruno Alves, Caneira, Miguel Veloso, Maniche, Ronaldo, Simao, Quaresma, Hugo Almeida

Armenia:
Berezovksi, Hovsepian, Arzumanyan, Tadevosyan, Dokhoyan, Khachatryan, Voskanyan, Karamyan, Arakelyan, Pachajyan, Melkonyan