It may be the onset of winter but Ireland’s green shoots of recovery continue to bloom after another vibrant display from this emerging and exciting team.
Cristiano Ronaldo briefly threatened to repeat his late heroics from Faro with a curling effort, but that was only after waking from a near game-length strop.
And if anyone is concerned about the whereabouts of his Manchester United team-mate, Bruno Fernandes, well, they’ll find him in Josh Cullen’s pocket.
But this was much more than just a simple bag 'em’ and tag ‘em approach from Ireland who were the better side after soaking up early pressure.
Yes, Portugal’s focus is all on Sunday’s top-two clash with Serbia that will determine who tops this qualifying group - and their starting XI reflected that.
But they knew they were in a game here because Ireland asked so many probing questions of them and deserved more for their night’s work.
The sound of a first full house in two years greeting Matt Doherty’s goal in injury-time was deafening - until it was chalked off for a foul in the build-up.
Chiedozie Ogbene was the driving force and PSG’s Danilo, in particular, will be glad to see the back of him.
And Pepe, too, had his fill of Callum Robinson - Ireland’s own CR7 - and the veteran defender saw red late in the game after lashing out at the livewire striker.
Ireland’s own game this Sunday, away to Luxembourg, is arguably more important in Stephen Kenny’s quest for a new contract.
But those “signs of improvement” that his FAI bosses demanded to see following the home debacle to those minnows in March are now everywhere you look.
So let this be the blueprint for better days ahead and end the debate.
Nobody can argue that these players aren’t giving their all for the manager by playing bright, brave and well orchestrated football
“We want the players to enjoy their football and this sense of joy to be reflected in their performances,” wrote Kenny in his programme notes.
“You cannot achieve this without taking risks as they strive to be brilliant.”
Very little on the line, but a captivating contest throughout with both sides free and easy in their approach.
And Ireland were desperate to capitalise on a makeshift Portuguese defence without Manchester City pair Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo.
They were among six visiting players - including Liverpool’s Diogo Jota - benched for fear of picking up a booking that would rule them out of Sunday’s top-two clash.
Portugal still had more of the ball in dangerous areas than Ireland early in that opening half.
But Robinson brought the best save of the half when forcing Rui Patricio into a full-stretch, flying one midway through the half.
And Ireland grew more and more into the game after sensing that Ronaldo and Co weren’t up to much in the final third, despite having more than enough possession.
In fact, Ronaldo spent more time perfecting some magnificent arm waving and all round exasperation than causing Ireland’s defenders too much bother.
That may have had something to do with the way Doherty and Seamus Coleman sandwiched him as he rose salmon-like for one cross.
What worked late in Faro, didn’t come off here and he lay, whinging in a heap in the box as Ireland broke with Robinson forcing that save from Rui Patricio.
The more time Ronaldo spent on his backside, the more of a frenzy whipped up by the first capacity crowd here in two years.
But there was more to it than that as Ireland brought the fight to Portugal with a calm and structured approach.
With a sound base at the back and midfield concerns addressed and tightened up post Baku, the hosts played with confidence, if not quite a swagger.
Robinson was always a handful and Ogbene’s pace and power was such a weapon. They combined with the latter heading just wide.
And Ogbene was key once again to a move that saw Cullen shoot low at Rui Patricio after the break.
At 36, Ronaldo’s goals tend to gloss over the fact that he doesn’t contribute a great deal else.
It was more of the same here and while his two late chances had Irish hearts in mouths, this was Ireland’s night.
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