Mr Gumienny blows his whistle and Portugal have held on, but what an effort from Armenia.
90' +2
Just one minute to go here and Portugal look like they are going to hang on. They have the ball where they want it - in the corner and are protecting it very well.
90'
Rui Patrício gets yellow.
We are going to have three minutes of stoppage time at the end of this game.
88'
The hosts are pushing forward trying to make something happen but it is clear that they are severely lacking the cutting edge. Portugal are holding on...
86'
Portugal are camped inside their own half as Armenia throw everything they can at their opponents, as they search desperately for the equaliser.
85'
R. Hovsepyan gets yellow.
84'
Hovsepyan flies into a challenge on Nani, catching the winger late and rightly having his name taken by referee, Serge Gumienny from Belgium.
82'
Ronaldo shows his frustration as Nani tries to shoot from a tight angle. He throws his arms in the air in a similar way to how he did towards Gareth Bale at Real Madrid.
80'
There is so much more urgency about the Portuguese here. They look very keen and eager to find that fourth goal which would kill off any Armenian hopes.
79'
José Fonte enters the game and replaces Ricardo Carvalho.
Minute
Description
78'
The visitors are making their final change of the match and it's a very defensive one of that. Carvalho is going off to be replaced by Southampton captain, Jose Fonte to freshen things up at the back.
76'
Portugal, be careful! Santos and the visitors will be extremely worried at this moment in time. Armenia have all the momentum and are looking very threatening.
74'
Both sides made a change almost immediately after the goal. Armenia are going for it as they throw on striker. Ruslan Korian in place of Sarkisov, while Adrien Silva replaces Coentrao for the visitors.
73'
Adrien Silva enters the game and replaces Fábio Coentrão.
72'
R. Koryan enters the game and replaces A. Sarkisov.
H. Mkoyan has scored a goal for Armenia!
A LIFELINE FOR ARMENIA!!! Patricio has a nightmare as he parries Ozbiliz's vicious effort straight to Mkoyan of all people, and he pounces to fire into the roof of the net. Game on!
70'
The atmosphere in the stadium has cranked up a notch. The home fans are sensing that there is something in this for their side, they need to keep plugging away.
68'
Mkhitaryan almost does just that as he looks to thread the ball through the Portugal defence for Ozbiliz to run onto, but it just had too much pace and runs behind for a goal kick.
66'
Armenia should look to make their extra man work to their advantage now. They may as well go for it and try to create opportunities for the likes of Sarkisov.
64'
There is an immediate shuffle of tactics to fill in the space from Santos. He sacrifices Danny for central midfielder, William Carvalho who earns his 13th cap.
63'
William Carvalho enters the game and replaces Danny.
62'
Tiago gets a second yellow card and is sent off.
A RED CARD FOR TIAGO! Portugal will have to see this out with 10 men after the midfielder receives his second booking for a needless trip in the middle of the pitch. Very silly from someone with so much experience.
61'
A. Özbiliz enters the game and replaces K. Hovhannisyan.
60'
There is no doubt about it, the man is a total genius. He has turned this game on its head all by himself with three very contrasting goals - the third of which was absolutely trademark from him.
58'
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored a goal for Portugal! Assist by Rui Patrício.
RONALDO HAS HIS HAT-TRICK!!! He does it in style, too. Controlling a loose kick from the keeper, he unleashes a vicious 25-yard piledriver that flies into the top corner. Surely that puts the game beyond the hosts.
57'
Armenia have just been taught an invaluable lesson in the toughest way possible. Never give Ronaldo a sniff of a chance or he will punish you ruthlessly.
55'
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored a goal for Portugal! Assist by Bruno Alves.
SUCKER PUNCH FROM PORTUGAL AND IT'S RONALDO AGAIN! Within seconds, Mkoyan fails to deal with a long ball and Arzumanyan is waiting for Berezovski to come and collect. Ronaldo pounces as he nips in ahead of the number five to flick the ball over the keeper and into the empty net.
54'
ANOTHER GREAT EFFORT FROM PIZZELLI! Some space just opens up in front of him and he tries his luck from 25 yards, seeing his shot just swerve away from the target.
52'
Armenia will be keen to put an end to their currently winless streak which stretches back eight matches. However, they won't mind that becoming nine if they were to take a point from one of the world's top teams.
50'
They may still be seventh in the World rankings, Portugal are not quite back to their brilliant best. While they have reeled off three straight qualifying wins, they were brought back down to earth by a shock 2-0 defeat at home to Cape Verde in March.
48'
Portugal will be keen to get three points from this game. With second-placed Denmark playing later, it would be nice for them to establish a five-point cushion and put pressure on their rivals.
46'
Portugal get the second half underway.
45' +3
And that is the last action of this first half.
45' +2
GREAT SAVE FROM BEREZOVSKI! Danny embarks on a jinking run before finding Coentrao, who steps inside a challenge and fires in an effort which is well beaten away by the 40-year-old keeper.
45'
The fourth official holds up his board which indicates that we are going to have two minutes of stoppage time.
43'
The referee is forced to blow his whistle as an intruder makes his way onto the pitch. He shows a great change of direction and pace before finally been removed by security.
41'
Moutinho presses the ball well and forces a mistake in the Armenia defence. He looks to find Ronaldo in the area but just puts too much on his cross.
39'
'MESSI! MESSI!' chant the Armenia fans as they look to intimidate Ronaldo. There have been some funny football chants through the years, but that has to be up there with the most witty.
37'
Mkhitaryan looks to make amends for his earlier error with a darting run into the Portugal area, before his ball across the area is well dealt with by the defence.
35'
Sarkisov just begins his run too early as he looks to latch onto a neat through ball. It was a tight call but probably the right one from the linesman.
33'
Tiago gets yellow.
Armenia will be disappointed at how they conceded that penalty. For one of their most experienced players to leave a loose leg dangling in the area was totally irresponsible.
31'
Just before that penalty, Armenia were forced into their first change of the day. Mkrtchyan was unable to continue after an earlier knock and was replaced by Rumyan Hovsepyan.
29'
Penalty goal scored by Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal!
YOU KNOW WHO AND YOU KNOW THE RESULT! Ronaldo steps up and there was never any question, as he calmly sends the goalkeeper the wrong way to equalise. That's international goal number 53 for him.
28'
R. Hovsepyan enters the game and replaces K. Mkrtchyan.
PENALTY TO PORTUGAL! Moutinho cleverly looks to step inside Mkhitaryan, who carelessly leaves a leg dangling in the area which catches the midfielder. The referee has no choice but to point to the spot.
26'
When you look at some of the quality in Portugal's ranks going forward, it does make you wonder why they have slipped off the pace a little in recent years.
24'
Portugal show how dangerous they can be on the counter attack with Moutinho leading the charge and finding Ronaldo, who backheels the ball to Coentrao before his cross is well cleared by Andonian.
22'
How long can Armenia keep this up? They have held their own brilliantly so far and need to keep on producing more of the same if they are to get something out of this game.
20'
That was only Armenia's fourth goal in Group I so far, taking them level with Portugal's tally. Considering the Portuguese have the likes of Ronaldo among their ranks, they will be very disappointed with that.
18'
Hovsepyan looks like he is providing the midas touch for his nation already. It is worth noting that, along with goalkeeper Berezovski, he played in the first ever meeting between these two sides back in 1996.
16'
To say that was Brazilian magic from the man born in the home of football would be an understatement of the highest order. You will struggle to see another such clean, accurate strike of the ball from distance like that.
14'
M. Pizzelli has scored a goal for Armenia!
WHAT A SCREAMER FROM PIZZELLI!!! ARMENIA TAKE THE LEAD! Ronaldo would have been proud of that one as the number eight steps up 35 yards from goal. He unleashes an absolute piledriver that flashes home off the underside of the crossbar, no chance for Patricio.
12'
Portugal are just starting to get themselves into this contest. They have been on the backfoot so far but appear to now be settling into their rhythm.
10'
The centre-half has had a wonderful career, playing at Porto, Chelsea and Real Madrid. He is currently at French club, Monaco, who reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season.
8'
WHAT AN INTERCEPTION BY CARVALHO! Armenia have come flying out of the blocks in this game and are almost in behind again, but the 37-year-old slides in beautifully to prevent any further danger for Portugal.
6'
What a start that could have been for the hosts and they won't get many better opportunities than that. He just couldn't cushion it into his stride.
4'
WHAT A CHANCE FOR GHAZARYAN! Mkhitaryan shows good vision to find him with a neat through ball, but his control off his chest is too heavy and it runs into the grateful arms of Patricio.
3'
This is the sixth meeting between the sides. Portugal are unbeaten in the five previous encounters, winning three of them. One positive for Armenia is that all of the Portuguese victories have come at home.
1'
OFF WE GO! The referee blows his whistle and we're underway.
Good afternoon and welcome to LIVE text commentary of the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying stages, as Armenia take on Portugal in Group I. I'm Jonathan Davies and I'll be guiding you through the action.
With 77 places between them in the World rankings, Portugal will fancy their chances of tightening their grip on first place. Just a point for Armenia would double their current tally.
Today marks caretaker Sargis Hovsepyan's first game in charge of Armenia. He is their all-time leading appearance maker with 131 over a 20-year career, and will need to use all of his experience as he looks to take his nation forward. His first starting 11 includes key player and leading goalscorer, Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Borussia Dortmund.
Portugal have plenty of experience within their starting line-up. Cristiano Ronaldo skippers the side on his 120th appearance - he is now just eight short of breaking Luis Figo's record. Nani earns his 85th cap, Ricardo Carvalho his 80th and there's a 79th for Bruno Alves.
That was a half of two halves really. Armenia began brilliantly, taking the lead with that stunning free kick from Pizzelli and enjoying the majority of play. However, Portugal have been very much on top from around 20 minutes onwards and got their equaliser from the penalty spot through Ronaldo.
Hovsepyan will be pleased by what he's seen from Armenia so far but they'll need to be prepared for a rejuvenated Portgual after Santos' half-time team talk.
PORTUGAL (4-3-3): Rui Patricio; Vieirinha, R. Carvalho, Alves, Eliseu; Tiago, Moutinho, Coentrao; Nani, Ronaldo (c), Danny.
The teams are emerging from the tunnel again and the second half is fast approaching.
FULL TIME - ARMENIA 2 PORTUGAL 3
Cristiano Ronaldo is the hero again, as his hat-trick keeps Portugal on top of Group I after their 3-2 win against a stubborn Armenia. Goals from Marcos Pizzelli and Hrayr Mkoyan proved to be consolatons for the hosts.
That's all for this evening. Thank you for following the LIVE action of the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying stages. I've been Jonathan Davies and until next time, goodbye!
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