Welsh hopes of qualifying for the Uefa Under-21 Championship finals are over. Goals from Andre Horta and Joao Felix earned Portugal a 2-0 victory at Nantporth Stadium, Bangor.
Wales are eight points behind joint leaders Romania and Bosnia with two group fixtures left.
Portugal could still finish top and they eased to victory despite having Yuri Ribeiro sent off just before the hour mark.
Manager Robert Page made two changes to his team with Brandon Cooper and Nathan Broadhead replacing Mark Thomas and Connor Evans.Â
Have a read of the match programme ahead of @Cymru U21 v Portugal 👇👇👇 #WALPOR #TogetherStronger
— FA WALES (@FAWales) September 11, 2018
More than 600 spectators watched Portugal repeat the 2-0 win they earned against Wales in Chaves last September.
Joe Morrell went close to scoring for Wales after five minutes, but his close range effort flew just wide.
Portuguese goalkeeper Joel Pereira saved from George Thomas and the visitors found themselves under early pressure.
Horta opened the scoring on 35 minutes with a superb long range shot which gave Luke Pilling in goal no chance, while Portugal then had Ribeiro dismissed for a second booking.
Wales had their best spell of the match following Ribeiro’s departure and the home team sent on substitute Rabbi Matondo, a former Cardiff City player who is now with Manchester City.
The pace and awareness of Matondo added a new dimension to a Welsh forward line missing Bluebirds’ teenage centre-forward Mark Harris, who was ruled out because of concussion.
Felix clinched victory when he scored Portugal’s second after 73 minutes, although Wales pressed hard in the closing stages such Matondo and Daniel James going close.
Wales under-21: L Pilling, C Coxe, R Norrington-Davies, B Cooper, C Harries, A Baker (A Babos 79), R Poole, D James, J Morrell (C Evans 74), G Thomas, N Broadhead (R Matondo 56).Â
Referee: Mykola Balakin.
Attendance: 625.
Wales under-21 squad: Luke Pilling (Ashton United, on loan from Tranmere Rovers), Owen Evans (Wigan Athletic), Cameron Coxe (Cardiff City), Rhys Norrington-Davies (Sheffield United), Regan Poole (Manchester United), Cian Harries (Swansea City), Joe Rodon (Swansea City), Isaac Christie Davies (Liverpool FC), Aaron Lewis (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Newport County, On loan from Cardiff City), Alexander Babos (Derby County), Joe Morrell (Bristol City), George Thomas (Scunthorpe United. On loan from Leicester City), Rabbi Matondo (Manchester City), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Nathan Broadhead (Everton), Daniel James (Swansea City), Ashley Baker (Sheffield Wednesday).
Group eight results:
Tuesday, September 11: Romania 2, Bosnia 0; Switzerland 3, Liechtenstein 0; Wales 0, Portugal 2.
Remaining group fixtures:
Thursday, October 11: Liechtenstein v Portugal.
Friday, October 12: Romania v Wales.Â
Tuesday, October 16: Wales v Switzerland, Portugal v Bosnia, Romania v Liechtenstein.
Group Eight
| Played | Won | Draw | Lost | For | Against | Goal difference | Points | |
| Romania | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 9 | 18 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 7 | 15 | 18 |
| Portugal | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 9 | 11 | 16 |
| Switzerland | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 15 | -5 | 10 |
| Wales | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 11 | -3 | 10 |
| Liechtenstein | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 29 | -27 | 0 |