Portugal 3 Ghana 2 – World Cup LIVE RESULT: Ronaldo scores in FIFTH World Cup in nervy victory over Black Stars – latest
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CRISTIANO RONALDO made history as the first man to score in FIVE World Cups in Portugal's 3-2 win over Ghana.
Andre Ayew equalised for Ghana moments after Ronaldo's penalty before Joao Felix and Raphael Leao put daylight between the two sides.
Osman Bukari pulled one back late for Ghana but the damage was already done.
- RESULT: Portugal 3-2 Ghana
- Portugal XI: Diogo Costa; Cancelo, Danilo, Ruben Dias, Guerreiro; Neves; Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Otávio, Joao Felix; Ronaldo
- Ghana XI: Ati Zigi; Seidu, Djiku, Salisu, Amartey, Rahman; Partey, Abdul Samed; Kudus, Inaki Williams, Andre Ayew
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Portugal 1-1 Ghana
73. Never mind 'Siu', it's Andrew Ayew!
The Ghana captain has equalised, shortly after being moved into a more attacking position.
It's brilliant work from Mohammed Kudus on the left, who gets to the byline to centre a low cross.
The delivery takes a deflection off the inside leg of Danilo to wrongfoot Diogo Costa, but falls nicely for Ayew to poke in from close range.
It's the first goal from an African nation at this World Cup!
Equaliser!
Portugal 1-0 Ghana
72. What a strike!
Kusus catches a half-volley from 35-yards so sweetly. It's straight at Diogo Costa, but inevitably stings the goalkeeper's hands.
Portugal 1-0 Ghana
69. At Stadium 974, Martin Lipton now believes that the penalty was the right decision. I'm yet to be convinced.
They were getting twitchy. No doubt about it.
Portugal players and bench had just tried to get Seidu sent off after top-class provocation by Joao Felix.
The Atletico man put his head in and then went down as he got one in return.
But all forgotten as the right sort of provocation by Ronaldo earns him a spot kick he buries.
It looked soft first time. Plain wrong on the first replay.
But more angles show Salisu plays Ronaldo and not the ball, he goes over and it’s never going to be overturned, despite all the Ghana protests.
Martin LiptonPortugal 1-0 Ghana - Ghana substitution
67. In the aftermath of the opening goal, Ghana have made a substitution.
Off has gone Seidu Alidu and on comes young Brighton wing-back Tariq Lamptey.
The switch will see Lamptey play on the flank with Andre Ayew moving up top to join Inaki Williams.
Portugal 1-0 Ghana
65. Was there any ever doubt?!
He's not the player he once was, he's been poor this evening, and he arguably shouldn't have had the penalty awarded, but still Cristiano Ronaldo steps up in the big moments.
In slamming his right-footed spotkick past Lawrence Ati-Zigi, the Portuguese legend becomes the first ever player to score at FIVE World Cups.
What an achievement!
Ronaldo does it!
Portugal 0-0 Ghana - Penalty to Portugal!
62. Cristiano Ronaldo goes down theatrically under the challenge of Mohammed Salisu, and Ismail Elfath points to the spot!
Contact was minimal, but there was enough to send the Portuguese captain to the turf.
The VAR officials review the incident but believe there is not enough evidence to overturn the on-field decision.
Portugal 0-0 Ghana
60.
Blimey. Best real moment of the game. From Ghana!
Kudus showed strength and pace before his left-footed daisy-cutter went past the post.
Finally a warning to Portugal.
If they do over-commit in search of a winner, there is a threat there. That might change things.
Martin Lipton
Portugal 0-0 Ghana - Saidu yellow card
58. My word!
Alidu Seidu becomes the third Ghana player to be cautioned by referee Ismail Elfath for an innocuous challenge on Joao Felix, that leaves the Portuguese forward rolling about the ground.
However, in the aftermath of the complaints, the Ghana defender clearly puts the head on Joao Felix and with some force.
Remarkably, neither the on-pitch referee or video officials get involved to issue either a second yellow or straight red card.
Suddenly, neither team are happy, and the tempo has finally been lifted.
Portugal 0-0 Ghana
56. The best piece of football so far!
Mohammed Kudus gets away from Ruben Neves in midfield, drives forward and unleashes a 25-yard drive just wide of the post.
Much better!
Portugal 0-0 Ghana
54. Martin Lipton has been back in touch from Stadium 974, unfortunately to report on more of the same in the second half.
Ronaldo’s fans have brought out the old 'Portugal allez' standard for the second half.
But it’s not got much better. If at all.
The first half stats, though, showed Ghana with just 26 per cent possession and not a single attempt on the Portuguese net. Surprised it was as much as 26 per cent.
Ghana just had a chance to break. Ended with a cross into the box with two attackers versus six defenders.
Getting the corner was the summit of their ambitions. That came to nothing as well.
Martin LiptonPortugal 0-0 Ghana
53. Ghana force a corner at the start of the second half, and glimpse an opportunity to shock the Portuguese.
The Black Stars send the big guns up from the back, but Salisu and Dijku are denied from getting a telling touch.
Portugal 0-0 Ghana
51. There were no changes in personnel during the half-time break, but it's been observed that Cristiano Ronaldo has swapped from a long-sleeved shirt to a short-sleeved one?
That must have been the reason why he missed those two sitters.
Portugal 0-0 Ghana - Andre Ayew yellow card
49. A smart turn in midfield by Otavio is brought crashing to a half by a combination of Ayew and Williams.
Referee Ismail Elfath is right on top of the incident to issue a yellow card to the Ghana captain.
Portugal 0-0 Ghana
47. The ITV pictures showed one young supporter asleep during the first half - and absolutely no-one can blame him.
Kick-off - Portugal 0-0 Ghana
46. There are no changes to report as Ghana get the second half at Stadium 974 underway.
We can only hope that the lack of change doesn't extend to the quality of the game.
Ronaldo watch: No United regrets
Tom Barclay has kept a close eye on Cristiano Ronaldo during the first half in Doha, but hasn't seen anything yet that will have Old Trafford officials thinking that they may have made a mistake.
"Cristiano Ronaldo has taken centre stage in the first half - but not in the way he would like.
"The megastar, recently a free agent after his acrimonious exit from Manchester United, has wasted two excellent chances for the Portuguese.
"Both came inside the first 13 minutes. The first saw him played clean through but a heavy touch allowed goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi to intervene.
"Three minutes later the 37-year-old had an even better chance as he made a characteristically-stratospheric leap to meat Raphael Guerreiro’s cross - but then headed weakly wide.
"He did have the ball in the net on the half hour with a fine, curling finish but the whistle had already gone for his push on defender Alexander Djiku.
"You can feel how much Ronaldo wants to show he is still the man after all the turmoil at his now former club United in the last fortnight.
"Ghana do not look any great shakes so he may well get his fairytale start to this World Cup in the second half.
"But so far, any United executives watching on will not be feeling too regretful at letting him go."
First half facts and figures
There are nothing in these numbers that will have the favourites for the World Cup worried.
Surely things can only get better?
Live from Stadium 974
Martin Lipton is our man in Doha, but he has struggled to recognise some of the Premier League players that we know so well during a disappointing opening 45 minutes.
"Mmmmmm…
"If I was charitable… the bands have been lively.
"The game, not so much.
"Feels like it’s Portugal’s to win, yet something is missing.
"Bruno and Bernardo Silva look different players in their respective Manchester kits, while the version of Ronaldo we all remember would already have stamped his mark all over it.
"Instead, ditchwater dull."
Half-time - Portugal 0-0 Ghana
One and a half games into Group H, and still no goals to report.
All the talk pre-match was of Cristiano Ronaldo, and he's been central to the few moments of intrigue on the pitch too.
The Portuguese captain has had one goal rightly disallowed, while also missing two good chances.
Portugal 0-0 Ghana - Kudus yellow card
45. On the stroke of half-time, Mohammed Kudus is shown the first yellow card of the game for a mistimed challenge on Joao Cancelo.
It's a caution issued as much for the audible yelp from the Manchester City full-back, and the reaction of the Portuguese substitutes on the bench.
Portugal 0-0 Ghana
44. As the clock approaches 45 minutes, Portugal pack the area for another attack.
Otavio has the opportunity to deliver on the turn, but swipes his cross behind for a goalkick.
Portugal 0-0 Ghana
42. Are Ronaldo's goalscoring powers on the wain?
After opting against squaring to Joao Felix, the captain's shot is blocked at close quarters by Amartey.
Keeping the ball alive, a cross lofted towards the back post looks perfect for a towering Ronaldo header, but the 37-year-old decides against jumping - and then gets in the way of a teammate behind him.
Portugal 0-0 Ghana
41. A decent spell - 15 seconds or so - of Ghana passing in the Portugal half offers a moment of excitement, but it soon evaporates when they lose possession.