Portugal were
knocked out of the 2014 World Cup despite defeating Ghana 2-1 at the Estadio
Nacional in Brasilia.
Paulo Bento’s side
had to win by a big margin against their African opponents and needed the USA
to lose to Germany in the other Group G match.
Although the
Americans suffered a 1-0 defeat in Recife, it was not enough for Portugal to
finish second and progress to the last 16.
The Seleccao came
third in the group level on four points with the USA, but with an inferior goal
difference.
Portugal looked
more creative from the start, with Cristiano Ronaldo hitting the crossbar with
a brilliant shot from a narrow angle on the right.
Ronaldo had a
header saved by Ghana goalkeeper Fatawu Dauda as the first half progressed,
before the European side surged ahead under fortuitous circumstances.
A good attacking
move from Portugal saw Miguel Veloso receive the ball on the left flank, and
his cross was inadvertently put into his own net by John Boye while trying to
clear the danger.
Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal forward
scored against Ghana
Despite Portugal’s
early pressure in the second half, Ghana equalised on 57 minutes when Asamoah
Gyan headed home Kwadwo Asamoah’s cross from close range.
However, the Euro
2004 finalists had the last laugh in the contest as Ronaldo scored his side’s
second and winning goal with 10 minutes of normal time left to play, smashing
the ball in from close range.
Despite their World
Cup fate being largely out of their hands, Portugal were determined to get the
win they needed to keep their slim hopes alive and were unlucky not to be in
front after five minutes when Ronaldo pumped in a cross-shot from the right
wing which rattled the crossbar.
The Real Madrid
forward threatened again seven minutes later from a free kick, which was lifted
over the wall but punched away by Ghana goalkeeper Fatau Dauda.
Ghana responded by
launching a couple of attacks of their own, but attempts to get the ball to
dangerman Gyan were dealt with by the Portuguese defence.
But it was Bento's
men who seemed the more likely to score and another chance went begging for
Ronaldo after 19 minutes, when his point-blank header from Joao Pereira's cross
was bettered by a class save on the line from Dauda.
John Boye: Ghana defender scored an own
goal
Ghana immediately
worked the ball down the other end, where Gyan's shot was kept out by Beto's
feet. And the Portugal goalkeeper made another contribution minutes later,
getting his hands to a header from Gyan after the former Sunderland striker met
a free kick from Asamoah.
However, Portugal
eventually found the goal they wanted after 31 minutes, although it was a
fortunate opener.
Miguel Veloso was
the creator, whipping in a cross from the left which bounced horribly for Boye
and resulted in the defender slicing into his own net.
Ghana responded to
the challenge, with Christian Atsu's assist headed past the right post by Gyan,
before Atsu himself tried a curling effort from the left side of the area which
fell just wide of the far post as the Africans sought an equaliser.
Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal forward's
goal celebrations were muted
Yet it was Boye who
almost added to his tally on the stroke of half time, a goal which would have
extended Portugal's lead as the Rennes defender sliced a ball into the area
from Nani narrowly over the bar.
The Africans came
out a stronger force after the interval and were finally level after 57 minutes
thanks to a fantastic ball in from Asamoah, with the Juventus midfielder using
the outside of his left boot to thump in a pass which Gyan finished with a neat
header.
The goal was Gyan's
sixth in World Cup finals and saw him become the all-time leading African
scorer in the tournament, passing the previous mark set by Cameroon's Roger
Milla.
Portugal were
beginning to look vulnerable and better finishing from an unmarked Abdul Waris
would have put Ghana in front shortly after the hour, but the forward failed to
make the most of a floated cross in from Gyan and directed his header past the
right post.
Instead it was
Portugal who finally broke the deadlock 10 minutes from time. Again luck was on
their side as Nani's cross was headed high into the air by Jonathan Mensah,
with Dauda flapping at the ball and pushing it straight into the path of
Ronaldo, who slammed home for his first goal in Brazil.
Portugal and
Ronaldo should have added to their total, but the FIFA Ballon d’Or winner was
denied twice by Dauda and also turned Nani's assist over the top of the net as
the opening 4-0 rout to Germany proved their undoing.
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