Cristiano Ronaldo's brilliant brace led a dominant Portugal side to a comfortable victory over the Republic of Ireland in Aveiro, serving as their final warm-up before Euro 2024. Joao Felix opened the scoring for Portugal in the first half, capitalizing on a well-worked short corner routine.
Ronaldo showcased his class with an unstoppable shot into the top corner early in the second half, before adding another goal with a sweeping finish. The victory provided the perfect send-off for Roberto Martinez's side ahead of their Euro 2024 opener against the Czech Republic on June 18.
It was a challenging evening for the Irish, who suffered their second defeat under interim manager John O'Shea. Despite a frantic start, where Portugal looked dangerous, the Republic struggled to contain their opponents' attacking prowess. Portugal's opener came through Felix after a quick corner caught the Irish defense off guard.
Ronaldo's exquisite second-half goals sealed Portugal's dominance, while the Republic of Ireland endured a tough night. Although Portugal heads into the Euros with optimism, the Irish team will aim to regroup under a permanent manager for their upcoming fixtures, with O'Shea in contention for the role.
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