BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) – Cristiano Ronaldo’s first goal of the World Cup earned Portugal a 2-1 win over Ghana but couldn’t prevent his team being eliminated from the tournament along with the Africans on Thursday.
Portugal finished level on four points with second-place United States in Group G but with an inferior goal difference. Germany topped the group after beating the U.S. 1-0 in Recife.
Ronaldo slammed home the winner at Estadio Nacional with his left foot in the 80th minute to break his drought in Brazil and give Portugal its first win. He barely celebrated, though, with the goal coming too late to help Portugal qualify at the expense of the Americans.
“We created many opportunities but we could not finish them,” Ronaldo said. “We knew we had to score three goals and were depending on the result of the Germany game and we couldn’t do that.
“We deserved more, but that’s football. We are leaving with our heads held high.”