RONALDO SICK AS A PARROTT

CRISTIANO RONALDO was sent off as Troy Parrott fired the Republic of Ireland to a sensational victory over Portugal to set up a World Cup qualifier showdown with Hungary.

- BY PAUL ANDERSON

The 40-year-old Portugal skipper was dismissed for elbowing defender Dara O'Shea off the ball with a little more than half-an-hour remaining at the Aviva Stadium, but Heimir Hallgrimsson's men were already well on their way to a win over the side ranked fifth in the world to write a new chapter in Irish folklore.

Ronaldo had launched a charm offensive on his arrival in Dublin, promising to try to be a "good boy", but his smiles turned to scowls and eventually petulance, leaving Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg, who had been urged in advance by Hallgrimsson not to allow the former Manchester United and Real Madrid superstar to do his job for him, with little alternative.