Overview
- Troy Parrott struck twice in the first half at the Aviva Stadium to give Ireland a result that keeps Group F qualification hopes alive.
- Cristiano Ronaldo was initially booked for elbowing Dara O’Shea before VAR, with Pol van Boekel involved, prompted referee Glenn Nyberg to upgrade it to a straight red around the hour.
- Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said Ronaldo told him he had “complimented me for putting pressure on the referee,” which the coach called a moment of silliness by the player.
- Portugal boss Roberto Martinez defended his captain, describing the dismissal as harsh and saying the action looked worse on camera than in reality.
- Ireland must beat Hungary in Budapest to secure a play-off spot, Portugal can clinch automatic qualification by defeating Armenia, and Ronaldo’s red card now goes to disciplinary review that could impact his availability for the 2026 World Cup.