Republic of Ireland vs Qatar

Ireland edged out Qatar 1-0 in a feisty international friendly at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, with captain Nathan Collins heading home the only goal in just the fifth minute to set the hosts on their way. Collins' powerful header from a corner proved the difference, though the match took a dramatic turn when Jack Moylan was shown a straight red for a reckless challenge on Jassim Gaber just before halftime. Ireland dug in with ten men through the entire second half, resisting sustained Qatar pressure and a wave of tactical substitutions. Almoez Ali's dismissal in the 79th minute for violently striking Jayson Molumby off the ball levelled the numbers and effectively sealed the result. The victory underlines Ireland's resilience and ability to grind out results under pressure. For Qatar, preparing for the 2026 World Cup under manager Julen Lopetegui, the defeat points to areas still in need of improvement — even with a man advantage, the goals simply did not come.