Ireland forward Troy Parrott shines again sealing Real Betis win on Champions League return

VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France (AP) — 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.

Three minutes later, Lille’s Ethan Mbappé was sent off for elbowing Betis defender Natan in the face, and the visitors from Seville saw out the win.

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.

“I’m really happy for Troy, scoring two goals in two matches is huge for him,” Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini said.

That goal last Friday 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.

Parrott had various loan spells away from Tottenham then built his reputation in the past two seasons at AZ Alkmaar.

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.

A 16 million euros ($18.6 million) move to Betis came three weeks ago and his impact has been immediate.

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