Manchester United players Bryan Mbeumo and Diogo Dalot faced World Cup qualifying disappointments with Cameroon missing out and Portugal suffering a shock loss, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo’s controversial red card.
Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo suffered World Cup heartbreak after Cameroon was eliminated in the CAF play-offs, while Diogo Dalot played in a shock 2-0 defeat for Portugal against the Republic of Ireland, according to a report from Manchester World.
Two Manchester United players faced disappointment in their World Cup qualification matches on Thursday night. Midfielder Bryan Mbeumo, who the report calls one of United’s “standout players,” was involved for Cameroon in their CAF play-off semi-final against DR Congo, which represented their final route to the World Cup.
Mbeumo and goalkeeper Andre Onana suffered heartbreak when Chancel Mbemba struck a dramatic 91st minute goal, blocking Cameroon’s path.
Elsewhere, defender Diogo Dalot played the full game as Portugal suffered a shock 2-0 loss to the Republic of Ireland in Dublin, where Troy Parrott scored twice. The defeat means Portugal must now avoid slipping up against Armenia on Sunday to qualify automatically.
The match was overshadowed by former United star Cristiano Ronaldo receiving a red card for violent conduct after 61 minutes. Portugal manager Roberto Martinez defended his captain, stating:
“The red card is just a captain that has never been sent off before in 226 games – I think that just deserves credit – and today, I thought it was a bit harsh because he cares about the team.” Martinez added:
“He was 60 minutes or 58 minutes in the box being grabbed, being pulled, being pushed and obviously when he tries to get away from the defender…”