Ireland 2 (Parrott 18, 45) Portugal 0
Ireland: Kelleher; Coleman, Collins (capt), O’Shea, O’Brien, Scales (Dunne 86); Azaz (Ebosele 79), Taylor (Coventry 68), Cullen; Parrott (Idah 68), Ogbene (Johnston 86).
Portugal: Costa; Cancelo (Semedo 45), Inacio (Veiga 45), Dias, Dalot, Joao Neves (Ramos 78), Vitinha, Ruben Neves, Felix (Leao 63), Ronaldo (capt), Bernardo Silva (Trincao 63).
Parrott’s goals
Cristiano Ronaldo’s red card:
Elsewhere in the group...
Armenia 0 Hungary 1 (FT)
Permutations: If Ireland win - beat Hungary by any score for playoff. If Ireland draw - beat Hungary by at least two goals. If Ireland lose - out of the World Cup.
That concludes our coverage for the night. We’ll have more coverage of this famous victory tomorrow, and our writers will also turn their attention to the game against Hungary.
Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson has spoken about his heated exchange with Cristiano Ronaldo after Ronaldo’s red card, with Hallgrímsson describing the Portugal player’s outburst as “a moment of silliness”.
Here is Gavin Cummiskey’s match report.
[ Troy Parrott scores twice to pull off a victory for the ages over PortugalOpens in new window ]
Here are the player ratings as Troy Parrott gets an extra special rating from Malachy Clerkin:
Mary Hannigan’s colour from a memorable night:
Troy Parrott on RTÉ: “Best night I’ve had in my whole life. I have no words to describe it.
“We all know how important this game is for us. I’m just overwhelmed what words to give now.
On his first goal: “It’s something I’ve worked on to be in the right area, it’s something we worked on. I’m buzzing.
On his second goal: “I saw the space in between his legs, always hard for the goalkeeper against him. It’s such a relief to see the hard work paying off.”
One of the great nights in Irish soccer history. It’s the first time they’ve beaten a top nation by two goals or more since Croatia in 1998, it’s the first time they’ve beaten a team of this quality since Germany in 2016. A long time coming and now they go to Hungary with the heads held high.
Full-time: Ireland 2 Portugal 0
Wow, one of the great upsets and well deserved too. A special night, thanks to two Parrott goals.
90+6 mins: Another shot by Portugal, powerful by Ruben Neves but straight at Kelleher. Troy Parrott is named man of the match, one of the easiest decisions they’ll ever make. Another long shot by Ramos goes wide.
Another great Coleman tackle for the books on the fast-flying Leao.
90+3 mins: Veiga hits it way over after Trinaco beat his man down the sideline. Nearly there.
90 mins: Massive chance for Mikey Johnston, through on goal but was too cute for it and ended up being blocked. Seven minutes of stoppage time.
89 mins: Great save by Kelleher! The ball fell to Ramos on the edge of the box, he chested it down and hit a superb low shot into the corner. That shows the threat there still is.
87 mins: Ebosele wins a corner using his strength, but Portugal clear it away. The crowd now rises for Ogbene, after he won the ball in behind again. His best game in an Ireland shirt? Superb. Mikey Johnston on. Scales also off, who was excellent, for Jimmy Dunne.
84 mins: Portugal running out of ideas as Veiga puts another one out of play. This performance won’t go down too well for Martinez in the Portuguese media, you’d imagine. Ireland haven’t been that great with the extra man though either.
78 mins: Last throw of the dice by Martinez, as he puts on striker Ramos for Joao Neves. Ogbene has had an excellent game and he is fouled by Dalot to win a free.
More than 50,000 people here tonight to see this performance, as Festy Ebosele comes off the bench for Finn Azaz.
75 mins: It is just sort of zombie possession for Portugal now and then if Ireland win it, they try a long ball over the top. But they can’t afford to switch off for a second.
71 mins: Still Portugal dominating possession, but a big Ronaldo void in the middle, being filled by the dangerous Rafa Leao. He nearly gets in at the back post after Dalot headed it nicely into the six-yard box, O’Shea just about did enough.
68 mins: Can Ireland take advantage of this extra man and press home their advantage. Can’t sit too still as Portugal have players that can hurt Hallgrímsson’s side.
Dangerous cross by Vitinha to Neves, but just goes out of play.
Parrott is going off, maybe to rest for Hungary, Idah is on. Taylor is off for Coventry. Fresh legs, although you feel Parrott could have got a hat-trick.
Felix off for Leao, Trincao on for Bernardo, subs for Portugal. Corner for Ireland. Amazingly in every single home game in this campaign, an opposition player has been given a straight red card for violent conduct or otherwise.
60 mins: Ireland are very deep now, but still looking for counter with those long kicks from Kelleher. 11 players within 40 yards of their own goal at all times this half. An incident in the Ireland box as O’Shea goes down, from Ronaldo giving him a elbow shove. He gets a yellow card and the crowd reacts with verocity. Ronaldo gives him back a fake crying gesture.
Potential red card check on VAR...
He’s checking the screen for a Ronaldo red card.
Ronaldo has been sent off! Wow.
57 mins: An eighth corner for Portugal as they go front post but well defended again. Veiga is a big man and staying up for the crosses into the box. Ireland’s centre-backs aren’t small fellas though either.
54 mins: Felix’s poor game continues as he miscontrols the ball out of play to jeers. Kelleher’s long balls have been giving Portugal plenty to think about today, although they’ve dealt with them so far this half.
Ronaldo gets impatient and takes a hopeful shot from the edge of the box which is flicked wide by Bernardo.
51 mins: Lots of possession for Portugal this half so half, continuing the trend of the first half. Trying to probe and catch Ireland out of position. Ruben Dias basically playing attacking midfielder.
48 mins: An early cross by Semedo into the danger area is well dealt with by Collins. Bernardo takes the corner and Veiga flicks it on to Vitinha in the six-yard box who should score but hits an air shot. Lucky.
Second half is under way.
Inacio is off for Veiga. Cancelo is off for Nelson Semedo. Martinez hooking the defence, which you understand.
Half-time: Ireland 2 Portugal 0
A magical performance by Ireland, their best in many, many years. Portugal are stunned. Parrott has been sensational!
GOAL FOR IRELAND! Would you believe it? Parrott again!
Ball over the top and Parrott takes it down at the edge of the box, turn and bang right into the bottom corner with a low shot. Just fantastic!
Ireland 2 Portugal 0
44 mins: Cancelo is causing Ireland a lot of problems, almost as an extra attacker from full-back. But it is leaving gaps at the back as well. It’s a very exciting game. But Ireland are really hanging on now. Another corner, and Dalot shoots, claiming it came off O’Brien’s hand. Kelleher punches another one away, and Felix hits it over.
41 mins: Then it all gets super chaotic and Portugal should score a few times. Cancelo causes problems with a feint in the box, then Kelleher should do better with a scissor shot from Vitinha from the edge of the box, which falls to Bernardo, but Ireland get it and clear into their own player. Eventually ends with a corner, where Dalot has a big chance but hits it just over.
39 mins: Vitinha is buzzing about, spraying it side to side, and Cancelo eventually crosses it well to Felix, who heads the ball over.
Off the post! How close by Ogbene. Ireland counter and Ogbene does brilliantly. Stretches the defence, then hits a curling shot from the side of the box to the far post and it agonisingly comes off the post. Unlucky.
37 mins: Some nice interplay by Portugal in the box, but well blocked by Collins and then immediate counter to Ogbene, who wins a throw off Vitinha. The crowd are really getting into it. O’Brien launches one and falls to Collins who flicks it over and Parrott misses the ball, seemed to think he was offside, which he may have been.
34 mins: Ireland win the ball back from Felix, who has struggled to penetrate the Irish defence.
31 mins: Risky tackle by Coleman on the edge of the box comes off, and plays a quick ball in behind to Parrott, who is a livewire and could have won a free-kick as he tussled with the centre-backs. Portugal deal with it and attack again. Joao Neves tries a long shot and it’s a good effort but just wide.
28 mins: Ireland win a free as Felix lashes out at Cullen on the sideline, who has had a good game so far. An infringement in the box for offside though and the Irish team retreat again.
24 mins: Portugal trying plenty of crosses into the box for Ronaldo but none connecting yet, which you’d always be afraid of jinxing. But Vitinha tries another and hits it straight out of play.
As it stands, Ireland would be on seven points, a point behind Hungary and back in the game in the group. But a very long way to go yet.
20 mins: The Aviva is deafening now and Ireland are flying. Another good long ball to Ogbene on the right and into Azaz in the box, but a weak shot at the keeper. Another shot on target.
18 mins: GOAL FOR IRELAND! Troy Parrott.
He made the goal, by winning the corner from charging down the goalkeeper, then from the corner to the back post, great delivery headed back by Scales to Parrott to score at close range.
Ireland 1 Portugal 0
15 mins: Felix goes down but the referee tells him to get up, accused of a dive there just outside the box.
Portugal give away the ball on the halfway line and Ireland counter, Parrott nearly finds Ogbene in the box, but just dealt with by the Portugal defence in recovery.
12 mins: It is hard for Ireland to build up from being so deep and another chance for Portugal as the ball comes to Ronaldo on the edge of the box, but he blazes it miles wide. Parrott won a flick on for Ireland, and Ogbene wanted a free-kick after being held but Ireland ended up recycling back to the keeper and then losing it long.
9 mins: Ronaldo’s free-kick goes straight at the wall. From the resulting corner, Cancelo’s cross is blocked and Kelleher hits a superb long pass to Azaz free in space just outside the box. But he screws it up and loses the ball, half chance.
6 mins: Portugal on the attack as expected and Bernardo almost weaves through in the box, but a through ball is shielded out by Ogbene on th eleft, who ambles over to the other end of the pitch on the right.
Ireland give away the ball sloppily and the ref rules the ball hit Cullen’s hand in a very dangerous area. 20 yards out just outside the box, centrally.
3 mins: Portugal with all the early possession and set up very wide to stretch the pitch. Ireland a green wall of five at the back. Seem to be set up 5-4-1 off the ball with Ogbene on the right.
An early shot on target for Ronaldo with a backheel after he was slipped in in the box, but was a weak shot straight at Kelleher.
The teams are out and a great rendition of the national anthem there. Game ready to start in a few moments.
What to expect tactically:
Ireland are down to play 5-3-2, likely to be another bus parking, but hopefully Parrott gets a chance at least once up front. The leadership of Séamus Coleman will likely be important, as Ireland would now take a draw just to stay alive. Scales and Coleman/O’Brien should be defensive wing-backs, and may rely on Ogbene winning an aerial battle and bringing people into play.
Portugal are set up 4-3-3 and are missing Nuno Mendes at left-back and Bruno Fernandes but Joao Neves from PSG is a top midfielders and it’s an embarrassment of riches in terms of talent. They will dominate the ball with the playmaker Vitinha and it could be a long night for the defence.
Cristiano Ronaldo can end Ireland’s dream now and hopes Ireland fans won’t boo him. A lot of young Ronaldo fans in the crowd, dying to see a look at the celebrity and the legend of the game.
He spoke to the media yesterday:
The new permutations:
If Ireland lose to Portugal, they are out of the World Cup qualifying.
If Ireland draw against Portugal, they will need to beat Hungary by at least two goals.
If Ireland beat Portugal, they will need to win by any score against Hungary.
Great chance for Armenia at the end, as the ball is cut back in the box but the Armenian player fluffs his lines. But it’s game over!
Full-time: Armenia 0 Hungary 1
After 75 minutes, it’s still Armenia 0 Hungary 1.
Ireland team is out!
Portugal team: Costa; Cancelo, Inacio, Dias, Dalot, Joao Neves, Vitinha, Ruben Neves, Felix, Ronaldo (capt), Bernardo Silva.
Ireland: Kelleher; Coleman, Collins (capt), O’Shea, O’Brien, Scales; Azaz, Taylor, Cullen, Parrott, Ogbene.
58 minutes gone in Armenia v Hungary, and it’s still 1-0, Ireland holding out hope of an equaliser for the Armenians.
While it’s half-time in the other game, here’s some reading from Ken Early, who encourages Ireland to go attack tonight:
Armenia have only had one shot, off target, as Hungary dominate. Not looking great for an equaliser as it heads towards half-time.
Half-time: Armenia 0 Hungary 1
Goal for Hungary! Oh dear. Varga with the goal after 33 minutes. Not going to plan.
Armenia 0 Hungary 1
Brilliant cross by star man Szoboszlai and a great downward header.
20 minutes gone, still not shots on target for either team, some little flashes of good play for Armenia but not leading to a shot. Still 0-0.
After 10 minutes, the score between Armenia and Hungary is 0-0, two early shots off target for the Hungarians.
Permutations for tonight’s games:
[ How can Ireland still qualify for the World Cup? Here are the permutationsOpens in new window ]
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Republic of Ireland’s crucial World Cup qualifier at the Aviva Stadium, where kick-off is at 7.45pm. Cristiano Ronaldo comes to Dublin again, with many of the world’s best players, and it’s a daunting task ahead, especially for an Irish team out of form. Evan Ferguson is out injured, but a chance for Troy Parrott and others to fill the gap.
Before that is the even more important game in the group of Hungary against Armenia from Yerevan, which kicks off at 5pm. We’ll have intermittent updates from that too. Here are the permutations for tonight.
[ How can Ireland still qualify for the World Cup? Here are the permutationsOpens in new window ]
If Hungary and Portugal win, then Ireland are out and can’t qualify ahead of the final game. Let’s not think about that.
The line-up for the Ireland game should be about an hour before kick-off, we’ll have that for you too.
