Ireland vs Portugal: Republic of Ireland Shock Portugal in 2-0 World Cup Qualifier

In a remarkable result at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, the Republic of Ireland national football team defeated Portugal national football team 2-0 in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match. With two first-half goals from Troy Parrott and a dramatic red card shown to Cristiano Ronaldo, the clash proved to be a thrilling twist in Group F.

13 November 2025, at Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland.

Final Score: Ireland 2-0 Portugal.

Goalscorers

Troy Parrott (17′)
Troy Parrott (45+1′)

Match Overview & Key Highlights

Portugal dominated possession early, recording over 80 % possession in the first 10 minutes, but it was Ireland who struck first. Parrott capitalised on a mistake by Portugal’s goalkeeper to open the scoring in the 17th minute.

As half-time approached, Ireland caught Portugal on the break again, with Parrott drilling home his second right before the interval to make it 2-0. The hosts took full advantage of quick transitions and clinical finishing.

The turning point came in the 59th minute when Cristiano Ronaldo was shown a straight red card for an elbow on Dara O’Shea, upgraded after a VAR review. It was Ronaldo’s first red card in 226 international appearances.

From that moment, Ireland grew more comfortable, absorbing pressure and managing the game well. Portugal’s dominance in possession proved meaningless without cutting edge, and the Irish defence held firm.

Key Statistics (Ireland vs Portugal – 13 November 2025)

Statistic	Ireland	Portugal
Final Score	2	0
Goals	Troy Parrott (17′, 45+1′)	—
Possession	~35%	~65%
Shots	7	14
Shots on Target	3	5
Pass Accuracy	78%	89%
Fouls Committed	12	10
Yellow Cards	2	3
Red Cards	0	1 (Cristiano Ronaldo, 59′)
Corners	4	8
Expected Goals (xG)	1.12	1.48

Tactical Insights

Ireland set up with a solid defensive shape and quick transitions, relying on Parrott’s pace and finishing. Their strategy disrupted Portugal’s rhythm—especially after the red card—forcing the louder possession stats to count for little. Portugal, on the other hand, lacked urgency and failed to adapt their game plan when down to ten men, resulting in a rare home defeat in qualifying.

What This Means for Both Teams

Ireland: This result injects fresh hope into their qualification campaign. A win against one of the group favourites signals their intent and shows their ability to seize big moments. Their playoff hopes remain alive and well.

Portugal: Despite being group leaders, this result is a setback. The red card complicates things ahead of their next game and the collapse in Dublin shows vulnerability. They will need to regroup quickly to secure automatic qualification.

What’s Next

Ireland now look ahead to a critical final match against Hungary, with everything still to play for in Group F. Portugal must bounce back, likely facing Armenia next, and do so without Ronaldo for at least their next fixture due to suspension.

Final Thoughts

The Ireland vs Portugal match will be remembered for Parrott’s clinical brace and Ronaldo’s dramatic dismissal. It was a night where game plan, discipline and opportunism trumped possession and prestige. For Ireland, it’s a milestone moment. For Portugal, a moment of reckoning.

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