Ireland stun Portugal as Ronaldo sent off | OneFootball

Ireland pulled off a remarkable upset at the Aviva Stadium, defeating Portugal 2-0 and keeping their World Cup qualifying hopes very much alive - all while witnessing Cristiano Ronaldo receive his first-ever international red card.

Troy Parrott was the star of the show for the hosts. The AZ Alkmaar striker opened the scoring in the 17th minute, meeting Liam Scales’ header from a corner to nod home a perfectly timed finish.

Ireland, though largely on the back foot in terms of possession, defended resolutely and soaked up Portugal’s early pressure.

On the stroke of half-time, Parrott doubled the lead, timing his run to perfection to control a ball over the top from Dara O'Shea and slot it past Diogo Costa, giving the home side a commanding advantage.

Portugal struggled to carve out meaningful chances, and their hopes of a comeback took a blow midway through the second half.

In the 61st minute, Ronaldo swung an elbow into O'Shea’s back. Initially shown a yellow card, the referee reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor after a VAR check and upgraded it to red. It was the first red card of Ronaldo’s international career in 226 appearances - a shocking moment for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Despite dominating possession after the dismissal, Portugal could not break down a well-organised Irish defence.

The final whistle confirmed a historic night for the home side, while Ronaldo and his teammates were left to reflect on missed opportunities.

The victory puts Ireland in a strong position to secure a play-off spot if they beat Hungary in Budapest on Sunday. Portugal remain top of the group but will face their final qualifier against Armenia without Ronaldo, a suspension that adds a dramatic twist to the closing stages of Group F.