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Here’s an on-the-whistle report from PA Media:
Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off as Troy Parrott fired the Republic of Ireland to a sensational 2-0 victory over Portugal to set up a World Cup qualifier showdown with Hungary.
The 40-year-old Portugal skipper was dismissed for elbowing defender Dara O’Shea off the ball with a little more than half-an-hour remaining at the Aviva Stadium, but Heimir Hallgrimsson’s men were already on their way to a win over the side ranked fifth in the world to write a new chapter in Irish football folklore.
Ronaldo had launched a charm offensive on his arrival in Dublin, promising to try to be a “good boy”, but his smiles turned to scowls and eventually petulance, leaving Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg, who had been urged in advance by Hallgrimsson not to allow the former Manchester United and Real Madrid superstar to do his job for him, with little alternative.
AZ Alkmaar striker Parrott’s first-half double ultimately did the damage, but it was a collective performance of true character which laid the foundation for a victory which means a repeat in Budapest on Sunday would clinch runners-up spot in Group F and a chance to make it to next summer’s finals.
Ireland kicked off in no doubt as to what was required of them following Hungary’s win in Yerevan and as they had in Lisbon last month, they found themselves pressed back deep inside their own half.
However, Ronaldo was unable to make anything of a series of early chances and although the home side’s forays into enemy territory were few, they grew in frequency and it was after Parrott had forced goalkeeper Diogo Costa into an error that they took 17th-minute lead.
Liam Scales found space beyond the far post to head Josh Cullen’s set-piece back across goal, where Parrott was perfectly placed to turn the ball home from point-blank range.
Joao Neves sent an angled drive across goal and Joao Felix headed a Ruben Dias cross over with eight minutes of the first half remaining, but Ireland almost extended their lead seconds later when Chiedozie Ogbene ran on to O’Shea’s clearance and saw his shot come back off the far post.
Caoimhin Kelleher saved from Felix and Diogo Dalot twice fired over as Portugal stepped up a gear, but the home side extended their lead on the stroke of half-time when Parrott ran on to O’Shea’s ball over the top before cutting inside and beating Costa at his near post.
The visitors might have been back in it within two minutes of the restart when half-time substitute Renato Veiga flicked on Bernardo Silva’s corner to Vitinha, only for the unmarked midfielder to fluff his lines.
Portugal continued to dominate possession, but their hopes suffered a fatal blow when, after being advised to review his 59th-minute decision only to book Ronaldo for swinging an arm at O’Shea, Nyberg produced a red card after going to the monitor.
There was a brief exchange between the striker and Hallgrimsson on the sideline which ended in a handshake, but both men knew the game was effectively done at that point and Ireland were able to ease their way across the finishing line despite the continuing onslaught.
Joy for Seamus Coleman. Photograph: Ben McShane/Sportsfile/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 17.00 EST
“Who is Parrott’s favourite player on the Portugal national team?” inquires Peter Oh.
“CRrrrr7!”
A pirate. Photograph: Oleksiy Maksymenko/Getty Images/All Canada PhotosShare
Updated at 16.56 EST
There was much to admire in Ireland’s performance. Sure, it revolved mainly around Caoimhin Kelleher knocking it full gun down the field and Ireland’s forwards running hard at the Portuguese defence and not allowed them any time to settle. It wasn’t too pretty … but it worked! Troy Parrott was the hero, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s petulant red card was a testament to how well Ireland defended.
Should Roberto Martínez leave him out of the World Cup squad altogether?
Any way never mind all that. Ireland are going to win the World Cup! potentially going to have a chance to qualify via the playoffs.
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“I wouldn’t be surprised if Ciro Immobile’s name is sung to the tune of La donna è mobile from Verdi’s Rigoletto,” writes Andy Flintoff (not that one).
“If not, then the Italian fans have seriously missed out on sneaking higher culture onto gli curve.”
A scene from Rigoletto. Photograph: Tristram Kenton/The GuardianShare
All today’s scores
Armenia 0-1 Hungary
Azerbaijan 0-2 Iceland
Norway 4-1 Estonia
Andorra 0-1 Albania
England 2-0 Serbia
France 4-0 Ukraine
Moldova 0-2 Italy
Republic of Ireland 2-0 Portugal
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Updated at 16.48 EST
“I don‘t know if there is a player (currently playing on such a scale) who has managed to make himself as unlikable as Cristiano Ronaldo,” emails Rebekah. “I used to like Ronaldo because of his story; he came from relatively poor circumstances and worked hard to get to where he is. But that man has such a terrible ego and attitude. If you’ve ever watched The Boys, he reminds me of Homelander. He’s an egotistical narcissist who can’t accept that the world doesn’t revolve around him and that time’s arrow marches on, regardless of however many pitiful attempts he makes to keep himself in the spotlight … What a waste.”
Cristiano Ronaldo departs. Photograph: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile/Getty ImagesShare
Full-time! Republic of Ireland 2-0 Portugal
That’s a helluva win for the hosts, and they will go to Budapest on Sunday with everything up for grabs. Well, certainly second place in the group.
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Full time: France 4-0 Ukraine
France WILL go to the ball! They are through to World Cup.
(Just leaving out the definite article to make it sound more American.)
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Updated at 16.42 EST
90 min + 5: Right, I’m calling it. Ireland are going to win!
The Portugal fans are looking suitably ashen-faced.
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“Is there really an Alessandro Good Morning playing for Italy as The Guardians team sheet suggests?” emails Leon from Australia.
Yes indeed. They did have a striker called Immobile, you know.
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Whoops, sorry, I missed that Italy are 2-0 up in Moldova!
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90 min + 3: Neves belts a shot a Kelleher. Straight at him.
I bet the mood in the Portugal dressing room will be a barrel of laughs tonight.
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Updated at 16.38 EST
90 min: Niall Mullen emailed five Troy Parrott puns.
This was the one I liked:
“C’est Troy bien”
Thanks Niall!
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Updated at 16.38 EST
90 min: Mikey Johnston has a chance to rub Portugal’s noses in it, but his shot is blocked. Kelleher makes an important stop at the other end. We’ll have a minimum of seven minutes of stoppage time. There is a vague sense of Ireland clinging on here, even if they are 2-0 up and a man to the good.
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Goal! France 4-0 Ukraine (Ekitike)
Ekitike. Who else?
Hugo Ekitike. Yes! Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 16.34 EST
87 min: Changes for Ireland – Jimmy Dunne and Mikey Johnston come on for Chiedozie Ogbene and Liam Scales. Festy Ebosele also came on for Azaz a few minutes ago.
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Updated at 16.32 EST
Goal! France 3-0 Ukraine (Mbappé)
Mbappé. Who else, eh? Eh!?
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Updated at 16.33 EST
83 min: Fun fact: I saw Ronaldo get sent off for Real Madrid at the Bernabéu in 2009. He scored twice beforehand in a 4-2 win against Almería.
Tonight is the 13th time he’s been sent off in his career.
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Updated at 16.30 EST
Goal! 76 min: France 2-0 Ukraine (Olise)
The former Crystal Palace legend Michael Olise doubles the hosts’ advantage in Paris, and they are well on course to seal their place in the good old U S of A next summer.
The French offense. Photograph: Franco Arland/Getty ImagesShare
79 min: I know what all you Republic of Ireland fans are thinking. They’ll somehow find a way to throw this win away. Keep the faith.
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“This is too obvious, Luke,” emails Damian of the Parrott-mania we are experiencing, including this YouTube link:
Troy by Sinead O’Connor.Share
“I’m in a Lisbon restaurant so this is all highly amusing,” emails Tim. “Most, you might be surprised, are happy to see the back of Ronaldo.”
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74 min: Idah of Swansea City, freshly off the bench, looks to make a run beyond Ruben Días but the Manchester City man tidies it up.
Republic of Ireland’s opponents have now had a man sent off in three consecutive qualifiers in Dublin.
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Updated at 16.20 EST
“Assuming Portugal beat Armenia on Sunday and qualify, Ronaldo will surely miss their first two group games next summer,” emails Tim.
“That’s got to be a three-match ban for violent conduct?”
Agreed.
Who’s crying now? Photograph: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 16.17 EST
Goal! Andorra 0-1 Albania
Kristjan Asllani gets on the scoresheet on 67 min.
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Updated at 16.18 EST
67 min: Adam Idah will come on for Republic of Ireland. In Paris, it’s still 1-0 to France.
“The France-Ukraine match is on TV here in the U.S. and for the possible Ukraine penalty the referee was called to the monitor and stuck with his original call of no foul.,” emails Matt. “Not two minutes later there was minor contact in the France box and a penalty was immediately awarded. For my money the Ukraine shout was a penalty and the France one was more marginal (though square in the “you’ve seen them given” category), so I suppose I’m 0 for 2.”
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62 min: At the other end Ogbene hits a decent low shot and Ireland have a corner.
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The Ireland fans are loving this. Ronaldo is not loving this. I am loving this. He was bang to rights on replay, it was a petulant elbow on O’Shea who was closely man-marking him. Ronaldo ironically applauds the fans before walking off down the tunnel. He will miss Portugal’s last qualifier and perhaps even the start of the World Cup …
Ronaldo. Off. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 16.10 EST
Red card for Portugal! Cristiano Ronaldo
Good night!
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Updated at 16.11 EST
60 min: The referee is going to the monitor! It’s an elbow by Ronaldo. He’s going off.
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59 min: Ronaldo is entering full man-child mode now. Dara O’Shea goes down in the heap after a challenge by Ronaldo off the ball in the Republic of Ireland penalty box. Ronaldo is booked. But the VAR is having a look, too …
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Updated at 16.05 EST
57 min: Portugal have got a bit of control in the last few minutes and have begun to push Ireland back. To remind them of the danger that still lurks, Parrott makes a dash downfield.
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