Lisbon, Portugal – Ireland suffered a heartbreaking defeat against Portugal in their World Cup qualifier at the Estádio José Alvalade on Saturday, October 11, 2025, succumbing to a 1-0 loss after a stoppage-time goal from Rúben Neves. The Republic of Ireland team, under Heimir Hallgrímsson, displayed resilience throughout the match, but were ultimately undone in the dying moments.
The match began with Portugal asserting dominance, pressing high and maintaining possession. Cristiano Ronaldo, leading the Portuguese attack, came close to opening the scoring in the 16th minute with a precise shot from outside the area that struck the post. Bernardo Silva's attempt on the rebound went wide, much to the frustration of the home crowd. Ireland, however, remained organized defensively, relying on strong marking to thwart Portugal's advances.
The second half saw Ireland growing in confidence and frustrating the Portuguese attack. A pivotal moment arrived when Portugal was awarded a penalty. However, Irish goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher produced a stunning save to deny Cristiano Ronaldo from the spot, sending waves of optimism through the Irish supporters.
As the game approached its conclusion, it appeared that Ireland would secure a valuable point away from home. However, in the first minute of stoppage time, Rúben Neves broke Irish hearts with a well-taken goal. The Portuguese midfielder found space and fired a shot past Kelleher, sparking jubilant scenes among the home fans. Neves poignantly wore the number 21 jersey in memory of close friend Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away in July.
The defeat leaves Ireland in a precarious position in Group F, with just one point from their opening three matches. They now face a crucial must-win game against Armenia in Dublin on Tuesday evening. However, their task is made more difficult by the suspension of key midfielder Josh Cullen. Portugal, meanwhile, top the group with three wins from three, building on their success of beating Spain in the UEFA Nations League final earlier this year.
Despite the loss, Ireland's performance showed a marked improvement from their previous outing, restoring some pride after last month's heavy defeat to Armenia. Jake O'Brien was named man of the match, acknowledging the team's effort. However, O'Brien expressed his disappointment, stating that the team "deserved a point".
The Aviva Stadium is set to host Ireland's next match against Portugal on November 13, 2025.
