AVEIRO, Portugal (AP) Portugal paid the price for Cristiano Ronaldo's absence through injury as it slumped to a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Albania in a 2016 European Championship qualifier on Sunday.
Portugal was in the driving seat for most of the game in Group I but had trouble finding a way through its opponent's packed defense. When the chances finally came, the Portuguese squandered them.
Bekim Balaj showed them how to do it in the 52nd minute when he received a cross from the right and produced a spectacular first-time volley.
Ricardo Horta hit the woodwork in the 69th on his debut, but Portugal failed to improve after its disappointing first-round exit at the World Cup in Brazil.
Elsewhere in Group I, Denmark rallied to beat Armenia 2-1.
