WHY ALDO GOT IN SPAT

Ireland strike legend John recalls what prompted his iconic celebration in front of Portugal star Couto back in 1995 win

- BY MARK McCADDEN

IT'S an iconic photograph - John Aldridge getting right into Fernando Couto's face, celebrating the goal that earned Ireland three points against Portugal.

The date was April 26, 1995. Thirteen points from five games - the only blip being a home draw against Northern Ireland - and the Boys in Green, it seemed, were well on their way to Euro 96.

Jack Charlton's men couldn't stop scoring either. When Vitor Baia dived on Steve Staunton's low cross and elbowed it into his own net, it was goal No.13 for the Irish.

And then, as Irish fans dreamed of a summer in England, the goals suddenly dried up.

A scoreless draw in Liechtenstein six weeks later was followed by back-to-back 3-1 defeats to Austria and it was the beginning of the end of the glorious Charlton reign.

Aldridge scored five goals in that campaign. He was the length of a stud away from a sixth but he cheered Baia's misfortune as if he had stuck it away himself from 30 yards.

The move began in the Irish half with Staunton sending the ball wide left into space for Niall Quinn who chased it down and knocked it back inside to the Aston Villa man, who continued his run forward.

He took the ball to the end line and drilled it low into the six yard box, beyond Couto and Aldridge's outstretched right boot.

But Aldo's movement, just in front of the Portuguese goalkeeper, was enough to bamboozle Baia and force him into his error.