Portugal 3-2 Ghana – Ronaldo and Portugal hold on to overcome resurgent Ghana
It may not have been pretty, but Portugal held on to beat a stubborn Ghana side 3-2 in an enthralling 2022 FIFA World Cup Group H match-up at Stadium 974 in Doha on Thursday.
The Portuguese dominated possession through the first half, with Cristiano Ronaldo missing two gilt-edged chances and having a goal disallowed inside the first half an hour.
Despite not having a touch in Portugal’s penalty box, Ghana’s disciplined defence stood resolute in the face of the opposition onslaught, ensuring the honours were even at the break.
After flashes of what might have been for the Black Stars early in the second half, a 60th-minute foul gave Portugal a penalty which Ronaldo never looked like missing.
Just 10 minutes later, though, Ghana answered back in an unlikely, but emphatic, fashion to equalise thanks to an Andre Ayew strike.
Though slow to get going, this was the mishap Portugal needed for the floodgates to open, taking the lead again in the 77th minute through Joao Felix, and doubling it three minutes later thanks to Rafael Leao.
Ghana were able to arrest back the momentum after Portugal’s quick-fire double thanks to Osman Bukari’s 88th-minute goal, but the deficit was simply too large leaving Portugal three points richer in Group H and Ghana with all the work to do to get out of the group.
Portugal escape with the three points they need
Earlier, after a subdued start disrupted only by trumpets of the travelling Ghana fans, Ronaldo promised to provide the impetus Portugal was lacking, only for a combination of steadfast goalkeeping from Lawrence Ati-Zigi and poor execution to deny Portugal an opener.
In the 30th minute, Ronaldo netted a simple one-on-one with the keeper, which was disallowed after the now-former Manchester United forward was judged to have committed a foul when reaching for the ball.
Portugal kept tightening the screw, with Felix and Otávio missing chances to take the lead.
The Black Stars started the second half brightly, but Mohammed Kudus could only send a chance from a quick counter wide past the right post.
Moments later, a rogue Mohammed Salisu challenge gave Portugal the penalty they were seeking, with Ronaldo slotting it home over a diving Ati-Zigi in the top left corner.
Ghana didn’t back down, answering the Portuguese with a goal of their own against the run of play, with captain Ayew securing an African nation’s first goal in the tournament.
But this did nothing but help Portugal realise their potential, resulting in two quick-fire goals from Felix and Leao.
Highlighting the unpredictable, topsy-turvy nature of the game, Ghana through Bukari snuck an 88th-minute goal that gave the Black Stars hope of a remarkable comeback, but this never came to pass.
South Korea and Uruguay had played out a goalless draw in the other Group H game earlier in the day.
