The Republic of Ireland kept their FIFA World Cup hopes alive with a superb 2–0 victory over 10-man Portugal in Dublin, denying the visitors the chance to secure qualification for a seventh straight finals.

Heimir Hallgrímsson’s side entered the match knowing time was running out to revive their campaign, while Portugal arrived just one win away from sealing their spot at next year’s tournament. Although the visitors started brightly and Cristiano Ronaldo had early openings, it was Ireland who landed the first blow.

Troy Parrott headed in from close range after Liam Scales knocked Jack Taylor’s corner back across goal, sending the Aviva Stadium into uproar. Moments later, Chiedozie Ogbene came agonisingly close to doubling the lead when his angled drive crashed off the post.

Portugal responded with chances of their own—Diogo Dalot and João Félix both failing to convert promising opportunities—before Parrott stunned Roberto Martínez’s side again in first-half stoppage time. The striker reacted sharply inside the area to fire home his second and give Ireland a commanding 2–0 lead at the break.

Ireland’s defensive discipline continued after the restart, though Vitinha should have reduced the deficit when he scuffed a finish at the back post from Bernardo Silva’s corner. The visitors’ hopes of a comeback suffered a major blow just after the hour mark when Ronaldo was shown a straight red card. Following a VAR review, the captain was dismissed for lashing out at Dara O’Shea, and he sarcastically applauded the crowd as he left the pitch.

With Portugal down to ten, Ireland looked to add a third—Ogbene dragging a shot wide before setting up Finn Azaz, whose effort was deflected behind. But with their defence rarely troubled and Caoimhín Kelleher largely untested, the hosts managed the game smartly, picking their moments to break forward while keeping Portugal at arm’s length.

Ultimately, Parrott’s first-half brace secured one of Ireland’s most memorable victories in recent years and breathed fresh life into their once-flagging qualifying campaign. The Boys in Green can now reach their first World Cup since 2002 if they win away to Hungary on Sunday, while Portugal will look to finish the job at home to Armenia.