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Portugal national football team
World Cup | Group Stage
Nov 24, 2022 at 4pm UK
 
Ghana national football team

Portugal
3 - 2
Ghana

Ronaldo (65' pen.), Felix (78'), Leao (80')
Pereira (90+1'), Fernandes (90+5')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Ayew (73'), Bukari (89')
Kudus (45+1'), Ayew (49'), Seidu (57'), Williams (90+1')

Cristiano Ronaldo makes World Cup history in Portugal win over Ghana

Ronaldo makes World Cup history in Portugal win over Ghana
© Reuters
Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the first player to score in five successive men's World Cups, with Portugal recording a 3-2 victory over Ghana.

Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first player to score in five successive men's World Cups, with the free agent registering in Portugal's 3-2 success over Ghana at the 2022 World Cup.

The 37-year-old was released by Manchester United earlier this week following his shock interview with Piers Morgan on TalkTV, but he came up with a goal from the penalty spot in his national side's Group H opener.

Andre Ayew cancelled out Ronaldo's effort to leave the two sides level in the 73rd minute, but Portugal scored twice in the space of two minutes through Joao Felix and Rafael Leao to secure the victory, albeit with Osman Bukari netting a late second for Ghana.

Fernando Santos's side will next be in action against Uruguay on Monday, while Ghana will be looking to bounce back when they take on South Korea on the same day.

Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo in action against Ghana at the World Cup on November 24, 2022© Reuters

Ronaldo had the first chance of the match in the 10th minute when Bernardo Silva released the 37-year-old, but Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi did brilliantly to crowd out the forward.

The free agent had another opportunity in the 13th minute when he climbed highest at the far post to meet a corner, but his effort just dropped wide of the post.

Portugal were the dominant side in the opening 20 minutes, boasting around 70% of the possession, with Ghana struggling to get out of their own half in the Group H contest.

Felix was next to try his luck for Santos's side in the 28th minute, missing the target, with the two teams still level at 0-0 heading for the final third of the first half.

Portugal's Bruno Fernandes in action with Ghana's Inaki Williams at the World Cup on November 24, 2022© Reuters

Ronaldo did find the back of the net in the 31st minute, although the number seven was penalised for a foul on Alexander Djiku, who was adjudged to have been pushed off the ball.

Alidu Seidu had a half-chance for Ghana early in the second period, but his effort was always moving wide of the post, with the match lacking quality in both final thirds.

Mohammed Kudus then had Ghana's best chance of the match when he darted into a forward position before firing towards goal, with his effort only just missing the far post.

Portugal were awarded a penalty in the 62nd minute when Ronaldo went down inside the box under a challenge from Mohamed Salisu, and the decision stood following a VAR review.

Ronaldo, as expected, stepped forward, and the forward sent his effort past Ati-Zigi to make the breakthrough in the 65th minute of the contest.

Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo shoots against Ghana at the World Cup on November 24, 2022© Reuters

Ghana were level in the 73rd minute, though, when Andre Ayew tapped a low Kudus cross into the back of the net from close range.

Portugal were back ahead in the 78th minute, with Felix racing onto a clever pass from Bernardo before expertly picking out the bottom corner.

Santos's side then scored a third in the 80th minute, as Leao collected a pass from Bruno Fernandes before slotting the ball into the far corner to secure all the points.

Ghana scored a second in the 89th minute through Bukari, who headed home at the far post, but Portugal were able to close out the match to pick up all three points, surviving a late scare when Diogo Costa dropped the ball inside his own box not knowing that Inaki Williams was there.

Williams slipped at the vital moment, though, costing Ghana what would have been a stunning leveller.

ID:500515:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6631:No Data Analysis info
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16.0%
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Ghana players pose for a team group photo before the match in September 2022
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Brazil Brazil32016
Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Republic of Korea South Korea31114
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023


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