Record-breaking Cristiano Ronaldo breaks Irish hearts on dramatic night in Faro

Cristiano Ronaldo broke Irish hearts with two late goals in Faro as the hosts came from behind to win 2-1.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (centre) celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game. Picture: Isabel Infantes

Portugal 2 Republic of Ireland 1

Two late Cristiano Ronaldo goals denied Ireland what would have been a memorable victory after John Egan’s first international goal had given Stephen Kenny’s side an interval lead.

Ireland needed something in Faro to salvage their World Cup campaign but they remain pointless after three qualifiers due to a late salvo by world-record breaker Ronaldo – who had a penalty saved by Gavin Bazunu after 15 minutes.

Egan’s header on the stroke of half-time gave Ireland an unlikely lead and they held out until Ronaldo equalised on 89 minutes and headed another after the last of five stoppage-time minutes had long elapsed.

It was rough justice on an Ireland side who fought toe-to-toe with the mighty Portuguese, some portents of encouragement for two arguably more important qualifiers to come against Azerbaijan and Serbia over the next six days.

As expected, Matt Doherty was switched to left wing-back, principally to counteract the threat of João Cancelo, but the biggest surprise was the elevation of Jamie McGrath to a first competitive start.

It didn’t look good for Kenny’s former Dundalk midfielder when he only got eight minutes of senior international exposure during the pair of summer friendlies but he was favoured over Conor Hourihane to facilitate a 5-3-1-2 formation.

In lining out, the St Mirren man became the first player from Meath to win a competitive cap.

His inclusion also underscored the metamorphosis Kenny is engineering, described by Liam Brady beforehand as an “agenda”, to plan beyond this campaign for the 2024 European Championship qualifiers.

At some point during his tenure, Seamus Coleman, Shane Duffy, Robbie Brady, Jeff Hendrick and Darren Randolph have been overlooked for younger alternatives. It was a theory Kenny dismissed last week, yet the wily Chippy doesn’t be far wrong with his analysis.

Ireland's John Egan celebrates after scoring a goal. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

If Ireland were building for the future, it was all about the here and now for the hosts, especially Ronaldo.

His entrance onto the pitch for the warm-up had the crowd on their feet and they shared his smiles prior to kick-off when he was presented with his trophy for being top scorer at the summer Euros.

That he shared the award with the lesser heralded Patrik Schick didn’t seem to register nor matter.

Manchester United’s marquee signing likes being the centre of attention and he soon lived up the billing for his role during an extraordinary opening 15 minutes.

Although the promotion of Rafa Silva indicated the Portuguese would place more weight on attack, a more predictable pattern unfolded in the early exchanges as Ireland struggled to break the central fluency channelled through attacking midfielders of Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes.

Kenny’s crew, to their credit, chose to match them with a possession-based approach, yet choosing to do so again inside their box backfired.

Similar to last October when Finland intercepted a goalkeeper’s pass to claim the winner, Bazunu’s undercooked ball to Jeff Hendrick allowed Diogo Jota to pounce.

The Liverpool striker coaxed Hendrick to stretch in the table and, despite getting some contact on the ball, his lunge caught Jota.

Matej Jug was close enough to call a penalty but wasn’t convinced enough to allow himself a repeat view on VAR. The four-minute interval delivered its own drama.

After Ronaldo clasped the ball and placed it on the spot, the mischievous streak in Dara O’Shea came out.

An act of gamesmanship, tipping the ball off the spot, provoked an angry response from the captain, who struck out. His hand may have only connected with O’Shea’s shoulder but sent him crashing to the ground.

A few nervous moments for Ronaldo – while he feared a sanction – gave way to anger when his powerfully struck spot-kick to the left was pushed away by the teenager.

Having been warned by the referee about encroachment, a retake could have been granted but wasn’t.

Enthused by their teen ‘keeper’s heroics, Ireland settled and, from their first corner on 24 minutes, Shane Duffy couldn’t react quick enough to punish slacking marking.

Connolly became more dangerous too, breaking into space on 27 without applying the requisite accuracy on a shot that strayed wide.

As the game opened up, the Galwegian blazed over while, at the other end, Bazunu was finally beaten by Jota but his back-post header crashed off the upright.

O’Shea’s withdrawal with an injury didn’t disrupt Ireland as they hit the front following a flurry approaching the break.

Rui Patricio was forced into his first save of the night from Connolly at the near post and, from McGrath’s resulting corner, Egan ghosted in to glance his header into the far corner.

Their tails up, Ireland didn’t sit back after the break and Connolly could have won a penalty on 54 when he was floored by João Palhinha.

Apart from Bernardo Silva’s blazing over with 15 minutes left, Bazunu was relatively untroubled, thankful for some brave blocks by Hendrick and Egan.

Ronaldo cut a frustrated figure, arguing with Coleman over an innocuous tug, and throwing his hands to the air when Bazunu once again repelled him from a 20-yard free-kick with two minutes left.

With a victory to rank with the 2015 slaying of Germany in sight, Ireland defended stoutly until they were undone by right-wing crosses from substitutes, Gonçalo Guedes and João Mario.

The first, with a minute left, found Ronaldo unmarked and his downward header gave Bazunu no chance.

Not content with his world record 110th goal, he grabbed the ball and returned to the centre-circle seeking a winner.

However, substitute James McClean conjured the next chance, firing into the side-netting from an acute angle.

Ronaldo couldn’t be so profligate from the next and final opening. Mario was the provider this time, standing up the delivery for the sprightly 36-year-old to rise high and power another header back across Bazunu into the far corner. He didn’t mind taking a booking for removing the jersey.

PORTUGAL: R Patricio; J Cancelo (G Guedes 83), Pepe, R Dias, R Guerreiro (J Mario 63); B Fernandes (N Mendes 63), J Palhinha (J Moutinho 73), B Silva; C Ronaldo, D Jota, R Silva (A Silva 46).

IRELAND: G Bazunu; S Coleman, D O’Shea (A Omobamidele 35), S Duffy, J Egan, M Doherty; J Cullen, J Hendrick; J McGrath (J Collins 90); A Connolly (J McClean 72), A Idah (J Molumby 90)

Referee: Matej Jug (SVN)