Ten-man Portugal stunned by Ireland in famous 2-0 victory
DUBLIN:Ireland produced one of their greatest modern-day performances on Thursday, stunning Portugal 2-0 to keep their faint World Cup hopes alive and delay the reigning Nations League champions’ automatic qualification. The night also turned sour for Portugal as captain Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off, adding further drama to a gripping contest.
Needing at least a draw to stay in the race, Ireland delivered far more. Troy Parrott struck twice in the first half, capping a sensational display that earned him player of the match honours and sent the Aviva Stadium into delirium.
“I think it’s probably the best night that I’ve ever had in my whole life,” Parrott said pitchside. “It’s such a relief and an overwhelming feeling to see the hard work paying off… We all knew how important this game was for us.”
Despite the famous win, Ireland’s route to the World Cup remains narrow. They must beat Hungary in Budapest on Sunday to secure a place in next March’s playoffs, after the hosts edged Armenia 1-0. Portugal, meanwhile, likely need only a draw at home to bottom-placed Armenia to confirm their automatic spot.
