Portugal-Ghana : Portugal Labour To Victory

Portugal were 3-2 winners over the Black Stars of Ghana last night at the 974 Stadium in their first Group H game of the World Cup tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo (65’), Joao Felix (78’) and Rafael Leao (80’) struck for the Portuguese as Ghana just fell short despite strikes from Andre Ayew (73’) and Osman Bukari (89’).
As expected, Portugal took control of the game in the early stages against a stubborn Ghanaian side that defended resolutely in their own half and looked to hit on the counter. Despite the possession, the Portuguese side could only feed on scraps in the final third as they had no way through behind the Ghanaian defence. They did have a couple of half chances through Bruno Fernandes and Joao Felix but the game was begging for a moment of magic. Appearing at his fifth World Cup tournament (a Portuguese record), Cristiano Ronaldo did have the ball in the back of the net but his effort was ruled out for a foul on Ghanaian defender Alexander Djiku.
Ghana’s five-man defence served well in denying spaces for Portugal to operate but the system left them short going upfront as the forwards were left on their own. Inaki Williams was short of balls up front while Muhammed Kudus and Andrew Ayew tried to force the issue with some individual play but the Ghanaian front three couldn’t click in the first half.
But the game did turn on its head in the second half when Cristiano Ronaldo (65’)...