Yet again, Ireland forward Troy Parrott scored a decisive goal in green and white on the big stage. World Cup qualifying games for Ireland. His first Spanish league meeting with Real Madrid.
Now on Real Betis’ return to the Champions League after a 21-year absence. Parrott, on his Champions League debut, struck in the 53rd minute for what proved to be the winning goal in Betis’ 3-2 victory over Lille. The 24-year-old forward took the ball into his stride about 30 meters (yards) from goal and advanced to strike a left-footed shot low into the far corner of the Lille net.
Real Betis fought back from a goal down twice to beat Lille in their first Champions League match after 21 years.
Parrott’s latest winning goal came just four days after he ensured Betis beat Real Madrid in La Liga. Then, he had come off the bench to pounce in the 81st with a shot from close range. That goal was sweeter as Madrid coach Jose Mourinho had Parrott as a teenage prospect when they were both at Tottenham — and gave him barely any game time.
His name went global last November in stunning back-to-back games for Ireland to keep alive 2026 World Cup qualifying hopes. Parrott scored both goals to beat Portugal 2-0 in Dublin, when Cristiano Ronaldo was famously sent off, then a hat trick in Budapest to beat Hungary 3-2, capped by a poacher’s goal deep into stoppage time.
