Portugal have beaten Ghana to top Group H after their World Cup opener. It was a heated affair, especially in the second half, in which both teams scored five goals after a quiet first 45 minutes.
Ghana held their own against former United star Cristiano Ronaldo, who kept trying to make runs into the box, but was expertly directed by the defence.
United’s Bruno Fernandes struggled to make much of an impact in the first half as Ghana played deep.
In the second half both teams improved a lot with Cristiano Ronaldo breaking the score from a penalty.
It means that Ronaldo is now the first player to have scored in five World Cups.
Moments later, however, Ghana fought back and it was Andre Ayew who fired an equalizer from close range, surprising the Portuguese.
However, Portugal scored two goals in two minutes to put the game out of reach, or so they thought.
Both goals in the 78th and 80th minute were assisted by Fernandes, who had stepped things up in the second half and floated in a series of long balls that unleashed the attackers.
Joao Félix coolly scored the first while substitute Rafael Leao made an instant impact by bagging the second.
But the African team never gave up hope and Osman Bukari got the second for Ghana when Ronaldo, who had been withdrawn, raised his hands in frustration on the sidelines.
With nine minutes of injury time to play, Ghana had a couple of chances to tie things up.
Diogo Costa laid the ball down unaware that Iñaki Williams was lurking, but his grazed shot was cleared wide of the line.
Meanwhile, a chance fell to Bukari, but it ultimately landed on the roof of the net.
In the end, it was a good day in the office for Fernandes, while United’s Diogo Dalot was an unused substitute.
