Portugal’s quest to qualify for the 2026 World Cup continues after a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Republic of Ireland.
Cristiano Ronaldo was heavily involved at Aviva Stadium but it was the hosts who went ahead in the 17th minute, Liam Scales heading Jack Taylor’s deep corner back into the danger area where Troy Parrott had a simple finish.
Chiedozie Ogbene hit the post after Portugal failed to deal with another long ball, but they didn’t learn the lesson and conceded again when Parrott latched onto Dara O’Shea’s pass, stepped inside Rúben Neves and beat Diogo Costa.
The home crowd reached fever pitch in the 61st minute when Ronaldo was sent off. He struck O’Shea with an elbow that was clearly born out of frustration, referee Glenn Nyberg upgrading the yellow card to a red after watching replays on the touchline.
Gonçalo Ramos came off the bench and tested Caoimhin Kelleher late on, but it was too little too late in Dublin, Ireland staying alive and Portugal immediately turning their attention to Sunday’s match against Armenia.
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Ronaldo makes busy start
Cristiano Ronaldo was heavily involved early on in Dublin, a backheeled effort not troubling Caoimhin Kelleher before a free kick that he fired into the wall, then meeting a cross from João Cancelo that sailed over the bar.
The home crowd needed some encouragement and they got it when Seamus Coleman released Troy Parrot but he couldn’t pick out Chiedozie Ogbene.
They were given more to cheer about when Diogo Costa’s pass was intercepted by Parrott who went close to drawing a foul from the goalkeeper. The volume got turned up another notch when Ireland opened the scoring in the 17th minute.
Corner undoes Portugal again
Jack Taylor’s deep corner picked out Liam Scales who had shaken off João Félix, the defender heading the ball back into the danger area where Parrott nodded it into the back of the net.
Finn Azaz fired a weak shot straight at Costa before Cancelo gave the ball away and was booked for clattering into Dara O’Shea.
Rúben Neves and João Neves tried their luck from distance and Félix headed a Rúben Dias cross over the bar, but Portugal were fortunate not to go 2-0 down in the 38th minute. Chiedozie Ogbene latched onto O’Shea’s long ball, got past Dias and Rúben Neves before curling the ball onto the post.
Portugal defence bypassed again
Vitinha’s volley was tipped wide by Caoimhin Kelleher before Diogo Dalot and Félix fired efforts over the bar, but their problems at the other end were exposed again on the stroke of half-time when Ireland doubled their advantage.
It was another long ball over the top by O’Shea, Parrott picking it up, driving into the box, stepping inside Dias and beating Costa at his near post.
Half Time: Ireland 2-0 Portugal
Roberto Martínez made two like-for-like changes at the break, Gonçalo Inácio and João Cancelo making way for Renato Veiga and Nélson Semedo. Veiga flicked Bernardo Silva’s cross to the back post where Vitinha couldn’t connect cleanly.
The home crowd continued to be provided with moments of encouragement and were loving it when Ronaldo was booked for lashing out at Dara O’Shea. Referee Glenn Nyberg booked the Portuguese captain before being summoned to the touchline monitors by the VAR, watching replays and then issuing Ronaldo with a straight red for violent conduct.
Red-carded Ronaldo confronts Ireland coach
Ronaldo sarcastically applauded the crowd before confronting the Irish dugout, eventually having words with Heimir Hallgrímsson who he shook hands with before disappearing down the tunnel. It was Ronaldo’s first red card for the Seleção.
Bernardo Silva and João Félix were replaced by Francisco Trincão and Rafael Leão, Troy Parrott then coming off to a standing ovation with Adam Idah entering the fray. Idah was immediately involved, bullying Rúben Neves off the ball and providing an opportunity for Azaz that was deflected wide.
Gonçalo Ramos replaced João Neves and forced a fine save from Kelleher late on, but the ship had sailed and Ireland celebrated a significant victory that keeps their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup alive.
Portugal’s quest to qualify for the World Cup will go down to the final game in Group F. They host Armenia at Estádio do Dragão on Sunday, the match being played at 2pm.
Analysis: ugly game to forget
It’s safe to say that everything that could have gone wrong in Dublin went wrong. Portugal were unable to break down Ireland’s well organised low block and were repeatedly hit on the counter attack.
Ireland had to win to keep their World Cup hopes alive and they played like it. They wanted it more and once the home crowd got involved, there was no stopping them.
Hallgrímsson admitted that his side targeted Portugal at the back post from set pieces. Following Hungary’s opening goal in the 2-2 draw at Estádio José Alvalade, it appears that Roberto Martínez’s side have a weakness in that area that the opposition will continue to exploit.
Martínez’s perseverance with Rúben Neves in central defence continued and I don't understand why. It wasn’t a main factor in the defeat, but the number of times Ireland were successful with long balls was alarming, and that something Portugal would have expected.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s frustrations boiled over and he can have no excuses with the red card. Blaming the crowd, Dara O’Shea and Heimir Hallgrímsson fools nobody, he allowed himself to get reeled in and lost his head which could have far reaching consequences.
At some point it would have occurred to Ronaldo that he will face a suspension that could carry over to the World Cup. The rules are very clear, elbowing an opponent is classified as violent conduct and the mandatory minimum suspension is a three-match ban.
Martínez doubled down after the match, saying: "He was 60 minutes or 58 minutes in the box being grabbed, being pulled, being pushed and obviously when he tries to get away from the defender. I think the action looks worse than what it actually is, I don't think it's an elbow, I think it's a full body, but from where the camera is, it looks like an elbow. But we accept it."
"The only thing that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth is at the press conference yesterday, your coach was talking about the aspect of the referees being influenced, and then a big centre-half falls on the floor so dramatically at the turn of Cristiano's body."
Pedro Proença and the FPF will now prepare to present a case to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and argue for the shortest possible suspension. Part of the defence will be the definition of a violent action, trying to persuade FIFA that Ronaldo was provoked, referee intimidation and and Ronaldo's disciplinary record.
Line-ups
Republic of Ireland: Caoimhin Kelleher, Seamus Coleman, Nathan Collins, Jake O’Brien, Dara O’Shea, Liam Scales (Jimmy Dunne, 86’), Finn Azaz (Festy Ebosele, 79’), Josh Cullen, Jack Taylor, Chiedozie Ogbene (Mikey Johnston, 86’), Troy Parrott (Adam Idah, 68’)
Unused substitutes:
Gavin Bazunu, Mark Travers, Kevin O’Toole, John Egan, Jamie McGrath, Conor Coventry, Andy Moran, Johnny Kenny
Coach: Heimir Hallgrímsson
Portugal: Diogo Costa, Diogo Dalot, Rúben Dias, Gonçalo Inácio (Renato Veiga, 46’), João Cancelo (Nélson Semedo, 46’), Rúben Neves, Vitinha, João Neves (Gonçalo Ramos, 78’), Bernardo Silva (Francisco Trincão, 63’), Cristiano Ronaldo, João Félix (Rafael Leão, 63’)
Unused substitutes:
João Carvalho, Rui Silva, António Silva, João Palhinha, Matheus Nunes, Carlos Forbs, Francisco Conceição
Coach: Roberto Martínez
Goals:
[1-0] Troy Parrott, 18’
[2-0] Troy Parrott, 45’
