Cristiano Ronaldo is inching closer to his 1000th career goal, but the Al-Nassr star faced disappointment during Portugal’s match against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday night. The spotlight was on Caoimhín Kelleher, who showcased his skills by denying Ronaldo from scoring during the game. The Brentford goalkeeper, who recently left Liverpool, made a crucial save from the penalty spot, frustrating the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
In the second half of the World Cup qualifier, Ivan Kruzliak awarded Portugal a penalty after Francisco Trincao’s shot struck Dara O’Shea’s arm. Ronaldo took the opportunity to step up and take the penalty kick. However, instead of aiming for the corners of the net, he attempted to outsmart Kelleher. The Irish goalkeeper read Ronaldo’s move perfectly, diving to his right and using his trailing leg to block the shot. This save kept Portugal from taking the lead and gave Ireland hope of securing a victory.
Kelleher’s impressive performance continued as he saved four of the last seven penalties he faced for both club and country. His recent stops against top players like Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, and Kylian Mbappe have solidified his reputation as a reliable goalkeeper. Meanwhile, Liverpool has been feeling the absence of Kelleher since his departure, especially evident in their recent shaky defensive displays. Despite Liverpool’s regrets, Kelleher expressed that leaving the club for Brentford was an easy decision for him.
