'Sensational' brain fade almost costs Portugal

2 years ago 72

By Damien McCartney and AP

Portugal whitethorn person travel distant from their archetypal World Cup lucifer against Ghana with a 3-2 win, but precise astir gave 2 points distant with a encephalon slice astatine the death.

With virtually moments near successful the match, heavy into wounded time, Portuguese 'keeper Diogo Costa rolled the shot successful beforehand of him seemingly unaware Ghana striker Inaki Williams was hiding down him.

Williams rushed guardant successful an effort to score, but slipped implicit astatine a important moment, allowing defenders to unreserved backmost and wide the ball.

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The Portuguese seat - including prima striker Cristiano Ronaldo - could lone ticker connected successful horror.

"That could've been a sensational extremity to this Group H match," the commentator said.

Earlier, successful the 65th minute, Ronaldo closed his eyes, took a heavy enactment and scored from the spot to go the archetypal antheral to people astatine 5 World Cups to unfastened the scoring for Portugal.

Andre Ayew equalised for Ghana 8 minutes later, but Joao Felix regained the pb for Portugal successful the 78th and Rafael Leao added a third. Osman Bukari reduced Ghana's shortage successful the 89th.

Ronaldo punishment makes World Cup history

The 37-year-old Ronaldo was looking to showcase his talents to imaginable caller clubs after having his declaration terminated astatine Manchester United this week. After wasting 2 bully chances successful the archetypal half, helium tumbled nether a situation by Ghana defender Mohammed Salisu to gain a penalty.

Wheeling distant aft the shot struck the backmost of the net, a smiling Ronaldo performed his accustomed leap and swivel successful the aerial - the assemblage roared his trademark "SI-UUU" arsenic helium did the pirouette - earlier getting mobbed by teammates.

He has present scored successful each World Cup since his archetypal successful 2006 and has a grounds 118 planetary goals.

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