History repeating - Irish pride restored but more late heartbreak in Lisbon
FOOT BLOCK: Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher saves the penalty of Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F qualifying match between Portugal and Republic of Ireland at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Another Cristiano Ronaldo penalty miss against Ireland in a World Cup qualifier was followed by a stoppage-winner – this time from Rúben Neves.
It was a replica story of the last competitive meeting in Portuguese soil four years ago when Ronaldo's late brace left Ireland with nothing.
Fatigue was a factor as the white shirts defended another cross into the box but this delivery by substitute Francisco Trincão was allowed to hang in the air for midfielder Neves to plant his header into the top corner.
Caoimhín Kelleher might regret not darting out earlier but he produced another immense performance, crowned by denying Ronaldo his 142nd international goal from the spot with 15 minutes left.
All defeat, despite being a cruel one against the top seeds, does for Ireland is make Tuesday’s visit of Armenia to a must-win. Anything less and the salvage job for a playoff spot is over and likely with it the culmination of another managerial reign.
Heimir Hallgrímsson was accurate when stating a miracle was needed following last month’s one-point return but they were close to starting it by holding the rampant, fifth-best team in the world scoreless until injury-time in the first home qualifier.
The perilous position Ireland found themselves from losing to bottom seeds Armenia last month called for imaginative thinking and Hallgrímsson delivered by ripping up the script he’s written in his first 12 games at the helm.
Discounting the first game against England because the newcomer admitted his assistants shaped selection and tactics, this was the first occasion for the Icelander to choose a back-five formation.
Jake O’Brien’s switch into the central trio facilitated the recall of his Everton teammate Séamus Coleman as the right wing-back, with Festy Ebosele also drafted in to occupy the space further up the flank.
Hallgrímsson’s gameplan was underpinned by Josh Cullen and Jayson Molumby, another fresh face, shielding the defence, with Ebosele and Chiedozie Ogbene the energetic duo in support of lone striker Evan Ferguson.
It was a tactic which worked, for the incessant attacks this Portuguese generation are renowned for didn’t materialise.
That the hosts only enjoyed 56% possession by the break was a testament to the cohesiveness about Ireland’s play.
Nathan Collins may have had a point when he declared Ireland up their game against the better nations. How to tackle lesser ones will be discovered on Tuesday – and they’ll have to do without Josh Cullen, after he incurred his second booking of the campaign.
Little was getting past the Irish defence, with Ronaldo’s frustrations evident by his gestures but a world-class player holds the ability to engineer a chance out of nothing.
Ireland looked safe when he received the ball 20 yards out but a quick shuffle of his feet saw the veteran unleashed a low left-footer that beat Kelleher but not the post.
Bernardo Silva ought to have finished the rebound, only to scuff his effort wide.
The fact Collins and Jake O’Brien took an age to jog into the Portugal box when a free-kick was awarded illustrated the ploy of slowing the rhythm their opponents revel in.
Molumby did manage to have a pot on goal that flew over approaching the break but forays into enemy territory were rare.
Vitinha’s strike was deflected over the crossbar by O’Brien touch while Bruno Fernandes dragged his shot wide of the post. Kelleher wasn’t overly exerted.
Much the same pattern continued after the interval. Ronaldo’s snapshot wide of the post arrived after a bout of pinball but Kelleher was finally worked, batting away shots a minute apart by Vitinha and Neves.
Cullen was close to connecting with Ogbene’s cross on the break but the Portuguese pressure intensified, albeit they were granted a fortunate penalty with 15 minutes left.
Trincão, part of a treble substation by Roberto Martinez on the hour to improve their sharpness, left fly with a shot that struck Dara O’Shea. Referee Ivan Kruzlak was nearby, adjudging the ball hit the defender’s arm when replays suggested it was his chest.
Kelleher, once again, denied a Portuguese penalty taker by repelling Ronaldo’s low drive down the middle.
It wasn’t the end of the drama, as tired bodies retreated into their box, inviting a deluge of late deliveries. Portugal were bound to avail from one of them.
D Costa; D Dalot (R Leão 62), R Dias, G Inácio (R Veiga 46), N Mendes; R Neves, Vitinha (F Trincão 62); B Silva, B Fernandes (G Ramos 86), P Neto (N Semedo 62); C Ronaldo.
C Kelleher; S Coleman (J Egan 86),, J O’Brien, N Collins, D O’Shea, R Manning; J Molumby, J Cullen; F Ebosele (M Johnston 64), E Ferguson (T Parrott 78), C Ogbene (W Smallbone 78).
Ivan Kruzlak (Slovakia).
Attendance: 48,821.
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