Ireland beaten in Portugal as Cristiano Ronaldo strikes twice despite Caoimhín Kelleher’s best efforts

Portugal 3 Republic of Ireland 0

THERE was no famous result to mark Jake O’Brien’s first start for the Republic of Ireland, instead the team lost to Portugal at the Estádio Municipal de Aveiro on Tuesday night.

John O’Shea’s players had no time to adjust to the heat and the intensity of the opposition, who are ranked as one of the favourites to win Euro 2024 in Germany.

Joao Felix opened the scoring in the 18th minute and Cristiano Ronaldo netted a quick brace at the start of the second half.

Ireland did try to do their own thing, and their high press led to Portugal’s first chance. Bruno Fernandes put this in motion by playing Joao Neves into space on the left, and the full-back’s cross was caught by Caoimhin Kelleher before Ronaldo could get to it.

Portugal then switched sides and Diogo Dalot set up Joao Felix for a shot, which Kelleher pushed out for a corner. The set-piece was short, and the sequence of passes led to a right footed attempt by Felix catching the Ireland defence off-guard, and the hosts took the lead in the 18th minute.

A Ronaldo free-kick followed, and the striker’s effort was knocked onto the far post by Adam Idah’s head.

There was a momentary break from the one-way traffic in the 23rd minute. Sammie Szmodics pressed, won Ireland a corner, and an inviting ball in by Will Smallbone missed everyone inside the penalty area. It was a small opening for the Ireland team, but nothing of note followed.

Instead, Fernandes issued a sharp reminder of the natural order of things by hitting the side netting.

If this was a jab, the knock-out punch was a moment of pure class by Ronaldo. The winger collected a pass from Ruben Neves, got around Liam Scales, and sent the ball across the face of goal. Kelleher could only watch, as Portugal went 2-0 up in the 50th minute.

The clock hit the hour mark and Portugal made it 3-0 through Ronaldo, who turned in a Jota pass.

Tom Cannon, who replaced Troy Parrott at half-time, tried to immediately respond for Ireland and a daring run by the Leicester City striker ended with the ball going out for a goal-kick.

Portugal shrugged off this incursion and pushed for a fourth goal, a charge which a hat-trick chasing Ronaldo led.

Kelleher made sure it didn’t get embarrassing for Ireland. The goalkeeper commanded those in front of him while players like O’Brien spread themselves inside the penalty area.

Portugal didn’t give up, their forwards were relentless and a number of shots from distance were blocked by the Ireland defence.

PORTUGAL: Diogo Costa; Diogo Dalot, Antonio Silva, Goncalo Inacio, Joao Cancelo, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Neves, Rafael Leao, Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix.

Subs: Nelson Semedo for Dalot (HT); Nuno Mendes for Cancelo (HT), Ruben Neves for Felix (HT), Danilo for Pepe (HT), Diogo Jota for Leao (HT), Matteus Nunes for Neves (77).

IRELAND: Caoimhin Kelleher; Seamus Coleman, Dara O’Shea, Josh Cullen, Will Smallbone, Adam Idah, Robbie Brady, Liam Scales, Troy Parrott, Sammie Szmodics, Jake O’Brien.

Subs: Tom Cannon for Parrott (52); Mikey Johnston for Idah (52), Callum O’Dowda for Brady (53), Matt Doherty for Coleman (70), Jason Knight for Szmodics (70), Mark Sykes for Smallbone (83).

Referee: Chris Kavanagh (England).