Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal brushed aside his acrimonious split with Manchester United to set yet another milestone, becoming the first player to score in five World Cups with a penalty in Portugal’s 3-2 triumph over Ghana on Thursday. Apart from a few of Ronaldo’s opportunities, the first half of the Group H battle was unremarkable, but it came alive after the break as Portugal gradually launched its campaign.
Cristiano Ronaldo Makes the History
Ronaldo, a free agent after his second stint at Old Trafford ended abruptly on Tuesday, thumped home a dubious penalty in the 65th minute after the referee pointed to the spot after an innocuous coming together with Mohammed Salisu.
Ghana did little except defend deeply in the first half, but Andre Ayew equalized in the 73rd minute, giving their raucous bank of fans at the 974 Stadium something to cheer about. Five minutes later, Joao Felix restored Portugal’s advantage, and Ronaldo then displayed his skill with a jinking run before slipping a pass to Rafael Leao, leaving Ghana astonished. Portugal survived nine minutes of stoppage time to win their opening game of a World Cup for the first time in their past four appearances, thanks to Osman Bukari’s 89th-minute headed response.