The Republic of Ireland delivered their performance of the campaign as Troy Parrott’s stunning first-half brace secured a vital victory over Portugal and kept their World Cup Qualification hopes alive heading into the final day.

Parrott opened the scoring in the 17th minute, heading home from a Liam Scales knockdown, before doubling Ireland’s lead with a composed finish after a brilliant solo run. Portugal’s night in Dublin went from bad to worse when talisman Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off in the 62nd minute following a VAR review. Ireland showed outstanding defensive discipline throughout the second half to withstand sustained pressure and claim a crucial three points.

Heimir Hallgrímsson was forced into several changes, with Evan Ferguson ruled out through injury and Ryan Manning suspended. As a result, he drafted Troy Parrott, Liam Scales, Jack Taylor, and Finn Azaz into the starting lineup for the crucial World Cup qualifier.

It was Portugal who created the first opening inside two minutes, as a pass from João Félix found Cristiano Ronaldo in the area, whose speculative back-heel was comfortably gathered by Kelleher. The visitors continued to press, but Ireland’s defensive shape and discipline held firm. Ronaldo’s next effort, arriving in the 10th minute, failed to trouble Kelleher as it sailed over the bar.

Ireland soon responded, and in the 14th minute, Finn Azaz broke down the right and played the ball into Ogbene. Portugal failed to clear their lines, allowing Parrott to pounce on the loose ball, but he couldn’t sort his feet quickly enough to test Costa.

Ireland took the lead in the 18th minute. The goal came from a corner that Parrott himself won, his excellent pressing forcing goalkeeper Diogo Costa into an error. From the resulting set piece, Taylor delivered to the back post where Scales headed the ball back across goal into the path of Parrott, who nodded home from close range.

Azaz had another attempt in the 20th minute, his low strike from distance gathered by Costa at the second attempt. At the opposite end, Rúben Neves tested Kelleher with a driven effort from outside the area, the Irish goalkeeper getting down smartly to save. João Neves then went close on the half hour, Kelleher diving across his goal as the shot drifted just wide of the far post.

Portugal’s best chance of the half came when João Félix rose to meet a cross, glancing a header narrowly over the bar. Moments later, Ireland struck the woodwork. Ogbene burst down the left, cut inside, and curled a low effort that beat Costa but rebounded off the base of the post.

Dalot fired over from the edge of the area following a Portugal corner, before Ireland survived a major scare in the 43rd minute when Jake O’Brien produced a vital block to deny Félix.

Ireland doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time. A perfectly weighted ball over the top by O’Shea released Parrott, who outpaced his marker and drove into the Portuguese area. With Costa advancing, Parrott kept his composure and drilled a low finish inside the near post to give Ireland a 2–0 lead at the break.

Portugal came out strongly after the restart, with Vitinha seeing an early effort blocked before Ronaldo fired wide. Ireland’s defensive structure remained disciplined, and Kelleher was called into action when a Nélson Semedo effort deflected off Scales, forcing the Irish keeper to save at his near post.

Portugal were reduced to ten men in the 62nd minute. Ronaldo was initially booked for an off-the-ball strike on O’Shea, but following a VAR review, referee Glenn Nyberg upgraded the caution to a straight red card.

Despite being a man down, Portugal continued to press, but Ireland’s organisation without the ball frustrated the visitors. Ogbene had another opportunity before being substituted, cutting in from the right and hitting the side netting in the 85th minute.

Kelleher produced a superb save in the 88th minute when a knockdown in the Irish box fell to Gonçalo Ramos, whose clean strike was pushed around the post. The Irish goalkeeper was called upon again in added time, smothering a powerful effort from Rúben Neves.

Ireland held firm through the final moments to secure a vital three points, taking their World Cup qualification campaign to a decisive finale in Budapest on Sunday.

Republic of Ireland: Kelleher (GK); Coleman (C), Scales (Dunne, 85), O’Shea, O’Brien, Collins; Cullen, Taylor (Coventry, 68); Azaz (Ebosele, 78), Ogbene (Johnston, 85); Parrott (Idah, 68).

Subs not used: Bazunu (GK), Travers (GK), Kenny, O’Toole, Moran, Egan, McGrath.

Portugal: Costa (GK); Dalot, Dias, Inácio (Veiga, 46), Cancelo (Semedo, 46); J. Neves (Ramos, 77), R. Neves, Vitinha; Félix (Leão, 63), Ronaldo (C), Silva (Trincão, 63).

Subs not used: Patrício (GK), Sá (GK), Carvalho, Silva, Palhinha, Nunes.

Booked: Finn Azaz, Jack Taylor, Liam Scales (Ireland); João Cancelo, Rúben Dias (Portugal).

Sent off: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal).

Player of the Match: Troy Parrott.