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| Dublin , Ireland - 11 November 2021; Pepe of Portugal fouls Callum Robinson of Republic of Ireland before being shown a second yellow card and subsequently a red card during the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying group A match between Republic of Ireland and Portugal at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. |
The Republic of Ireland continued their encouraging recent form as they held a sub-par Portugal to a goalless draw in Dublin.
Cristiano Ronaldo endured a frustrating night for the visitors, who ended the game with 10 men after Pepe was sent off for two bookable offences.
Chiedozie Ogbene and Enda Stevens spurned the home side's best chances.
With the Republic's qualifying hopes already over, Portugal are tied on 17 points with Serbia with one game left.
Having looked on course for a famous win in Faro in September only to be sunk by Ronaldo's late double, the Republic had revenge on their minds in front of a noisy 50,737-strong crowd inside the Aviva Stadium.
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| Dublin , Ireland - 11 November 2021; Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal in action against Shane Duffy of Republic of Ireland during the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying group A match between Republic of Ireland and Portugal at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. |
Pepe's 82nd-minute dismissal - the Porto defender earning a second yellow card for catching Callum Robinson with a stray elbow - offered the hosts a chance to earn a late win.
They had the ball in the back of the net in injury time, too, but Matt Doherty's celebrations were cut short by the referee's whistle after Will Keane was adjudged to have fouled Rui Patricio.
Portugal boss Fernando Santos arguably had one eye on Sunday's crunch game against Serbia with Manchester City pair Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo and Liverpool's Diogo Jota among those to be left on the bench.
And while Republic boss Stephen Kenny will be heartened with a clean sheet against a side of Portugal's potency, the 2016 European champions must deliver a point at home against the Serbs in order to seal automatic qualification for next year's finals in Qatar.
