Portugal 0, Republic of Ireland 2

DUBLIN (Interstat) — In a stunning World Cup qualifier that defied all pre-match projections, the Republic of Ireland delivered a commanding 2-0 victory over Portugal on Thursday at a raucous Aviva Stadium, powered by a first-half brace from striker Troy Parrott. The result, a significant upset, sends Ireland to the top of their qualifying group with a perfect record while handing a heavily favored Portuguese side a disastrous start to their campaign. From the opening whistle, the Irish side played with an intensity that Portugal struggled to match. The breakthrough came in the 17th minute when Parrott found the back… Read more...