Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner for Portugal as they beat Ghana 2-1 in Brasilia in Group G on Thursday but both sides still crashed out of the World Cup.
Ronaldo missed three chances with only goalkeeper Fatawu Dauda to beat that would have been enough to put his side into the last 16. The 29-year-old, who last month helped Real Madrid to a 10th Champions League title, had already come close to scoring on a number of occasions before the first goal.
After a scrappy opening few minutes he picked the ball up wide on the right and hit a wayward cross that sailed over Dauda only to come back off the crossbar. He then tried his luck with a free-kick from 25 yards in a central position which Dauda beat away.
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He looked certain to score as he rose unmarked to meet a cross from seven yards out but headed straight at Dauda, who made an instinctive reaction parry.
An own goal from John Boye gave Portugal the lead before Asamoah Gyan equalised for the Black Stars. Ronaldo scored the second half winner but will be ruing the misses which left Portugal stuck behind second place United States on goal difference.
https://vine.co/v/Mt2AlH3PzBu
Germany won the group after beating he United States 1-0 after Thomas Müller lashed in a second-half goal.
Earlier in the day, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari had been sent home after attacking and abusing, respectively, members of the Ghana management.
Cristiano Ronaldo winner not enough to prevent Portugal's World Cup exit
Portugal 2
Ghana 1
Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner for Portugal as they beat Ghana 2-1 in Brasilia in Group G on Thursday but both sides still crashed out of the World Cup.
Ronaldo missed three chances with only goalkeeper Fatawu Dauda to beat that would have been enough to put his side into the last 16. The 29-year-old, who last month helped Real Madrid to a 10th Champions League title, had already come close to scoring on a number of occasions before the first goal.
After a scrappy opening few minutes he picked the ball up wide on the right and hit a wayward cross that sailed over Dauda only to come back off the crossbar. He then tried his luck with a free-kick from 25 yards in a central position which Dauda beat away.
He looked certain to score as he rose unmarked to meet a cross from seven yards out but headed straight at Dauda, who made an instinctive reaction parry.
An own goal from John Boye gave Portugal the lead before Asamoah Gyan equalised for the Black Stars. Ronaldo scored the second half winner but will be ruing the misses which left Portugal stuck behind second place United States on goal difference.
https://vine.co/v/Mt2AlH3PzBu
Germany won the group after beating he United States 1-0 after Thomas Müller lashed in a second-half goal.
Earlier in the day, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari had been sent home after attacking and abusing, respectively, members of the Ghana management.
- © AFP, 2014
As it happened: US v Germany, Portugal v Ghana, World Cup 2014
Take a bow Kwadwo Asamoah after this sublime cross for Ghana’s goal against Portugal
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Asamoah Gyan World Cup World Cup 2014 Cristiano Ronaldo John Boye. Ghana Portugal too little too late