As it happened: Troy Parrott's brace before Ronaldo's red mist keeps Ireland's World Cup dream alive
SENT OFF: Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts to a decision. Pic: ©INPHO/Nick Elliott
What a result, what a night. Bring on Sunday!
Stay tuned to our website for the best of the analysis, reaction and more.
Coleman wins the ball off Leao with an excellent tackle.
Now Ramos heads over. Late pressure from Portugal but Ireland standing firm.
Now Ramos blasts wide.
Troy Parrott named man of the match.
Kelleher holds Ruben Neves' piledriver.
Good work by Felix, Collins heads clear and Veiga blasts over. That will do nicely.
End to end now as Portugal go all out to pull one back. Ireland break though but Johnston's shot is blocked when he could have rolled Idah in.
Kelleher gets down low to his left to make a vital save. Corner, but it comes to nothing.
Coleman wins Ireland a throw-in. Again it's celebrated like a goal. What a legend he is. Still has it.
Ogbene fires wide of the near post and is then replaced by Johnston. Unrelated to the shot I'm sure. One of many who put in a great shift. James Dunne on as well.
Festy wins Ireland a corner. They will be in no rush to take it.
Ronaldo's first ever red card for Portugal on his 226th appearance.
Ogbene wins a free on the right wing. Ireland fans celebrate it like another goal.
Scramble in the box and Ireland want a penalty. Instead they get another corner which comes to nothing.
Another good break by Ireland. Idah gets them up the pitch, Ogbene works it to Azaz but he took too long to get his shot away and it's blocked for a corner.
Remarkably, all three of Ireland’s group opponents have incurred a red card on their visits – all within the first 15 minutes of the second half. May be a factor is a likely seven point haul from nine.
All going Ireland’s way and heading for a shootout with Hungary at the 61,000-seater Puskás Arena on Sunday.
Just past the hour, Ireland hold a comfortable lead and a numerical advantage following a straight red issued to, of all people, Cristiano Ronaldo.
His petulant swing gave the referee a decision to make and despite the initial booking, a VAR check was always likely to upgrade.Â
— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) November 13, 2025
Ronaldo’s jabbed finger towards Heimir HallgrĂmsson is in keeping with his theory that pre-match comments were aimed to pressurise the Swedish whistle Glenn Nyberg.
Ogbene’s shot that flashed past the post suggests there’s more goals here for Ireland. Portugal seem to want to get out of Dublin.
The Aviva is rocking. Parrott is replaced by Idah. Great shift by him, great brace. Coventry on for Taylor.
Ogbene flashes a shot wide of the far post.
VAR checked the incident and have upgraded the yellow to a red. Wow.
RONALDO HAS BEEN SENT OFF!
Ronaldo gets booked, much to the delight of the crowd. VAR checking if the elbow warrants more.
Ireland defending well but they're not helping themselves once they get the ball back. Giving it away too easily.
Some atmosphere after that went in! pic.twitter.com/z6NaghAjyl
— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) November 13, 2025
Dara O'Shea gets stuck in on Semedo but it will be a corner. And it's cleared.
Ronaldo cut's onto his left on the edge of the area but his strike goes well wide, may have taken a touch off his own man though.
This really hasn't been Joao Felix's night as he controls a dropping ball straight out of play under no pressure. Still time for him to change that though.
The crowd getting behind the players now. 'Come on you boys in green' rings around the Aviva.
Ireland perhaps going a little too deep, too early. Every man pretty much in Ireland's defensive third.
It should be 2-1. Corner gets flicked onto the back post and Vitinha get's his shot all wrong when unmarked at the back post. Luckily for Ireland, he scuffs it wide.
And then he makes it 2-0! pic.twitter.com/XqC0O6WvyO
— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) November 13, 2025
Collins gets across to clear Semedo's ball in and it will be a corner.
Double sub for Portugal: Cancelo and Iancio off, Semedo and Veiga on.
Two exquisite finishes – the first with his header on 16 and a low drive inside the post on the stroke of half-time – have Ireland in dreamland.
On the balance of play, the scoreline doesn’t at all flatter Ireland, not forgetting the shot Chiedozie Ogbene saw rebound off the post.
Should Ireland see this out for victory, Sunday’s trip to Budapest constitutes a shootout with Hungary for second place.
The Hungarians, also know that victory could usurp the Portuguese for the automatic ticket if somehow Armenia shock Portugal.
Roberto Martinez’s side are the ones shocked here at the break.
45+3mins One last corner to defend before the break.
What a goal by Parrott, what a moment for Ireland. Cuts onto his right and slots it home at the near post. Dreamland stuff for Ireland. 2-0 before the break.
Portugal corner. Ireland defending for their lives as Dalot's shot deflects over. Another corner. Under pressure Kelleher punches to Felix and he blazes over. A chance to rest for Ireland, and breathe.
Another Portugal cross from the right and Ronaldo fails to connect, Collins edges it clear.
Could so easily be 1-1 but Ireland somehow scramble the ball clear after a massive mix up close to goal. Kelleher parries a shot when he could've held it and is fortunate Bernardo Silva's pullback fails to pick out a man in front of goal.
So unlucky for Ogbene and Ireland. Another quick ball in behind the Portugese defence, Ogbene is onto it in a flash but his curler hits the far back post and bounces away from Ireland.
Felix rises higher than Coleman at the back post but he can't keep his header down. Half a chance, more than that if it was Ronaldo climbing. But it wasn't.Â
Parrott relieved to see the flag go up. He complete air kicks in front of goal from Collins' header.
Ogbene breaks and wins a throw deep into Portugal territory. Portugal's high line is there to be got at.
Well, well, well- who'd have thunk it? Our correctly predicted Ireland XI are working wonders, leading the Portuguese purists at the one third mark of the match.
It looked ominous when Ireland were chasing shadows for the first few minutes against the visiting keepball but it was their wall, specifically Dara O’Shea's head, which prevented CaoimhĂn Kelleher having to deal with Cristiano Ronaldo’s seventh minute free-kick.
That was awarded on the edge of the box in harsh circumstances, Josh Cullen deemed to have handled Vitinha’s shot. Maybe Heimir HallgrĂmsson has a point when warning the referee might be influenced by Ronaldo and Co.
Quick-thinking and fielding by Kelleher to release Finn Azaz shortly afterwards hinted at a vulnerability in the Portuguese backline which has been expanded to five for this penultimate qualifier. A better pass inside from Azaz would have given Chiedozie Ogbene a clear sight on goal.
Gradually, Ireland got more joy in the final third and some pressing by Troy Parrott on goalkeeper Diogo Costa led to a corner – their first in 110 minutes of action between the nations over two games.
They made it count in a rehearsed move, Cullen’s arrowed cross to the far post allowing Liam Scales to ghost in and nod across for Parrott to prod home from close-range.
That breakthrough has roused the crowd, which had threatened to be treated to a Portuguese masterclass based on the early pattern. Goals change matches and Ireland have a lead to protect. They’re not sitting on it either, displaying ambition when in possession. Ogbene’s pace is stretching the table-toppers. Could be a long hour to go.
30mins Coleman wins the ball back on the edge of the box. Ireland counter quickly again but Parrott fails to hold off the challenge of his man.
Ruben Neves, the villain from Lisbon, tries to score against Ireland again but this time his strike from distance is saved.
Portugal haven't got their rhythm back yet since the goal, Irish fans have found theirs. Great atmosphere in here now.
Just after he could've stayed down and maybe got a penalty. Parrott heads home from a corner.Â
Pressed the keeper, won back possession and then won a corner although it wasn't clear how much Diogo Costa got on it.
Corner comes in and Parrott heads in from a few yards from Scales' header back across goal at the back post.
Ireland fans growing in confidence. Ireland looking dangerous on the counter attack but Azaz can't get a shot away in the box when picked out by Coleman. Moments earlier, Parrott couldn't find Ogbene.
Ronaldo with the free…. pic.twitter.com/FuUFfjko6F
— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) November 13, 2025
11mins Chance now for Portugal but Ronaldo blasts Cancelo's pull back well over the bar from a good position in the box. Can't keep giving him that space.
Brilliant long ball by Kelleher. Azaz latches onto it. Ogbene is free in the middle but Azaz can't find him. Great chance for Ireland, quick counter.
Vitinha shoots from the edge of the box. Handball. Free in for Portugal. Ronaldo fancies this.
Few boos for Ronaldo as he gets on the ball, not what he wanted he said on his return to Dublin.
Read More
The Fields of Athenry rings around the stadium as Portugal attack once again.
Cancelo wins a corner off Scales down the right abd Cullen heads it clear.
Ronaldo touch and backheel on the edge of the six-yard box, dealt with by Kelleher.
Ireland kick us and head to the corner. Portugal with the ball now and looking forward.
We are underway at the Aviva.
Here we go!
Ireland to attack their main end in this half. Portugal won the toss, it seems.
Few flares being let off in the Ireland end. Maybe they were left over from the FAI Cup final on Sunday.
Two good renditions in fairness, now time for kick-off. No 'Wild Rover' being sung pre-match tonight it seems.
The teams are out, time for the anthems.
The teams are in the tunnel. Collins and Ronaldo sharing a joke there, not ideal. As Roy Keane would say; "you're going to war!"
Feel free to check out our Instagram for more videos from tonight's match. Teenage disco vibe here at the moment, not ideal.
Decent atmosphere here before kick-off, but the Hungary result has deflated it a little.
Less than 15 minutes until kick-off, a reminder of what Ireland need to do to finish second.
Ireland win tonight, they will need to win away in Hungary.
Ireland draw tonight, they will need to win by two goals in Hungary.
Ireland lose tonight, roll on World Cup 2030.
A quick reminder on the teams and how they look likely to line up.
Kelleher; Collins, O’Shea, O’Brien; Coleman, Cullen, Taylor, Scales; Ogbene, Azaz; Parrott.
Costa; Cancelo, Inacio, Dias, Dalot; Â Joao Neves, Vitinha, Ruben Neves; Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo, Felix.
7.22pm Right, back in the press box at the Aviva, as you can see below. This view never gets old in fairness.
Ah, feels like I was here only a few days ago! pic.twitter.com/ghAJ7TVs33
— Andrew Horgan (@AndrewHorgan) November 13, 2025
And what that means for Ireland is as follows;
Ireland win tonight, they will need to win away in Hungary.
Ireland draw tonight, they will need to win by two goals in Hungary.
Ireland lose tonight, roll on World Cup 2030.
Into injury time in Yerevan and Hungary still lead 1-0. Bad news that for Ireland.
Patriotic @ExaminerSport column ahead of Ireland match bigging up our how much better our friends in the north are doing.https://t.co/bqM0s5HVkD
— Tommy Martin (@TommyMartinVM) November 13, 2025
Big chance for Armenia, one on one but they can't take it. Hungary still lead 1-0, 81 minutes played.
After HallgrĂmsson said that McClean had been in his thoughts for selection, the Derry native has had his say.
'I ain't available': Unhappy McClean reacts to Hallgrimsson's reasons for no call-up.
The Portugal team making its way to the Aviva Stadium @JFallonExaminer pic.twitter.com/Z7uG1d0gzP
— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) November 13, 2025
The Ireland team has been announced. To see how they will line-up, click on the link below.
- The visitors take the lead in Yerevan with Barnabas Varga glancing home a header, after a searching cross from Dominic Szobaszlai. It had been coming.Â
Tonight’s the night.
Tonight will either be the night Ireland’s World Cup dream officially ends or it will be the night we all start believing we can qualify for our first finals since 2002.
For that to happen, the Boys in Green will need a favour from Armenia when they host Hungary at 5pm which will then determine just how positive a result Heimir HallgrĂmsson’s men will need against Portugal.
Kick-off against Ronaldo and co is at 7:45pm but I will be providing you all with regular updates from the press box in the Aviva Stadium from 7pm so stay tuned for that.
But before then, I will keep you posted on the second half between Armenia and Hungary and also team news from the Irish and Portuguese camps as soon as the team sheet is in my hand.
And before all that, feel free to read the best of the preview pieces from our website which you can find below.
Portugal preview: There's always the Euros on the horizon as realities of November winter bite.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
