CRISTIANO Ronaldo was sent off for the first time in international football as Portugal missed the chance to secure World Cup qualification with a surprise 2-0 defeat by the Republic of Ireland at Aviva Stadium.
After Troy Parrott’s first-half double for the home side, Ronaldo was initially shown a yellow card for swinging his elbow into Irish defender Dara O’Shea’s back on the hour mark.
However, the Portugal captain’s card was upgraded after the video assistant referee (VAR) advised referee Glenn Nyberg to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.
An ignominious end to the five-time Ballon d’Or’s night, it was Ronaldo’s first red for Portugal in his 226th appearance.
Victory would have sealed Portugal’s place at next year’s finals with a game to spare, but Parrott’s brace was enough to deny Roberto Martinez’s side and keep alive the Republic of Ireland’s qualifying hopes.
While Portugal are still in pole position to top the group, they will be without Ronaldo for Sunday’s home match against Armenia (14:00 GMT), with the length of his suspension to be decided by a disciplinary committee.
The Republic of Ireland, meanwhile, would secure a play-off spot with victory over Hungary in Budapest on Sunday (14:00).
Ronaldo had a heated exchange with Hallgrimsson on the touchline before shaking the Republic of Ireland manager’s hand
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Ronaldo said he would try to be a “good boy” to stop Irish fans booing him.
But the Al-Nassr superstar drew howls of derision from the Dublin crowd when he lashed out at O’Shea inside the Republic of Ireland penalty area and pretended to wipe tears away from his face.
Having been given his marching orders, Ronaldo exchanged words with Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson and sarcastically applauded the crowd, before shaking the Icelander’s hand and walking down the tunnel.
In the build-up to the game, Ronaldo accused Hallgrimsson of mind games after the manager urged the referee not to be influenced by the forward.
It had already been a frustrating night for the 40-year-old, who has twice had penalties saved against the Republic of Ireland in the past.
Having lashed a shot over the bar and blasted a free-kick into the wall, he cut an increasingly frustrated figure before becoming the protagonist in the game’s flashpoint.
Beyond that, Portugal – who were without the suspended Bruno Fernandes – were found wanting in front of the Irish goal, with Joao Felix heading over the bar in the first half before an unmarked Vitinha lashed at a shot at the far post two minutes after the restart.
It is Portugal’s first defeat since a 1-0 Nations League loss to Denmark in March, but they will still guarantee their place at a seventh successive World Cup with victory over Armenia – who they beat 5-0 in September on Sunday.