It took four minutes. A month ago, Portugal was practically qualified for the 2026 World Cup. But as stoppage time began in the match between them and Hungary, the Seleçao conceded the equalizer (2-2). This Thursday, it was in Ireland that Cristiano Ronaldo and his team hoped to finish the job. Wasted effort. They missed their point (defeat, 2-0) and CR7 received the first red card of his career in the selection.
The first minutes were nevertheless promising for the Lusitanian visitors. But despite having possession of the ball outrageously in their favor, they conceded the first goal on a set piece. The Irish corner benefited Troy Parrott in two stages (1-0, 17th). But the EIRE attacker hadn’t said everything and just before the break, he scored twice, this time with a perfectly placed low shot (2-0, 45th).
Stunned, the Portuguese did not take advantage of the break to get their minds straight. And they were not helped by their captain. On an Irish cross, Cristiano Ronaldo elbowed Dara O’Shea. The referee then gave him a yellow, but the VAR called it. After two minutes of discussions and watching the video, Mr. Nyberg returned to the pitch.
Cristiano Ronaldo, something never seen before with Portugal
Walking towards the former Real Madrid man, he took out the yellow to indicate that he was canceling it. And in the next moment, he brought out the red (61st). A real bolt from the blue in Cristiano Ronaldo’s career with this first red card in 225 appearances for the Portuguese selection.
Outnumbered and, despite some tactical changes, Portugal was never able to come back or even reduce the gap. In the classification of Group F, the very good operation is for Ireland which, if it remains third, is only one point away from a possible second place, or even more in the event of a more than favorable but a priori improbable scenario. For Vitinha and the Portuguese, things are now very simple: they will have to win on Sunday against Armenia to finish first.
