The FIFA World Cup 2022 continued on Thursday with Portugal narrowly edging out Ghana 3-2 at the 974 Stadium in Ras Abu Aboud, Qatar to claim three points in Group H with the win.
It is Portugal’s first World Cup win in an opening match since 2006, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored once on Thursday, made history as the first male player to score in five different World Cup tournaments of FIFA.
Earlier, Switzerland secured three points in Group G after taking care of business against Cameroon, winning 1-0 to open the day, while Uruguay and South Korea battled to a 0-0 draw in second match of the day. Both teams got a point in Group H for their efforts.
You can watch this game and all games in the tournament on the FOX Sports family of networks, the tournament’s official English-language broadcast partner in the US, and the FOX Sports app and FOXSports.com. you can too Stream full match replays on Tubi for free.
Portugal vs Ghana Highlights | FIFA World Cup 2022
It was Portugal’s first win in a World Cup opener since 2006.
Here are the best plays.
Portugal 3, Ghana 2
22′: Air Ronaldo arrives
Ronaldo had a chance to put Portugal in front early on with that header, but he couldn’t connect. However, he took some air in the process.
30′: Goal disallowed
Ronaldo found the back of the net on the half-hour mark, but the goal was quickly disallowed by a foul on Ghanaian defender Alexander Djiku. So things remained goalless heading into the half.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal against Ghana was disallowed for a foul
Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal was disallowed for a foul in Portugal’s match with Ghana at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in the 30th minute after a foul.
57′: See yellow
Things heated up quickly in the second half. Ghana’s André Ayew received a yellow card in the 49th minute, followed by teammate Alidu Seidu receiving a yellow card after contact with Portugal’s João Félix.
65′: Goal!
Ronaldo scored with a penalty to put Portugal 1-0 up in the 65th minute, becoming the first male player to score in five different FIFA World Cup tournaments.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal against Ghana in the 62nd minute
Cristiano Ronaldo scores a goal for Portugal at the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
73′: Ghana equalises
Portugal’s lead was short-lived as Ayew connected into the net in the 73rd minute to tie things up, 1-1.
André Ayew of Ghana scores a goal against Portugal in the 73rd minute
André Ayew’s second-half goal earns Portugal a place in the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
78′: Portugal responds
Félix, assisted by Bruno Fernandes, came up with a great goal in the second half that put Portugal back in front, 2-1.
Portugal’s João Félix scores a goal against Ghana in the 77th minute
João Félix scores a goal in the second half against Ghana at the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
80′: Full throttle, no brake
Two minutes later, Rafael Leão scored a strike for Portugal after a counter-attack to make it 3-1.
The Portuguese Rafael Leão scores a goal vs. Ghana in the 80’s
Rafael Leão scores a goal against Ghana at the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
89′: Ghana keep it close
Ghanaian midfielder Osman Bukari reduced the gap slightly in the final minutes, 3-2, with a header.
It wasn’t enough to spark a comeback, though, and things ended there.
Ghana’s Osman Bukari scores a goal against Portugal in the 89′
Osman Bukari scores a goal against Portugal at the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
PREJOY
Setting the scene
All eyes were on Portuguese superstar Ronaldo when he took to the pitch on Thursday.
The 37-year-old sent shockwaves through the sporting world this week when it emerged that he he left his club, Manchester United, by mutual consentand so it was suspended and fined by the Football Association for two matches with the club he will land with next. Ronaldo skipped his media duties as national team captain at the official FIFA press conference on Thursday, but fans still turned out to support the star.
History in the making
Ronaldo, who tied the men’s record for playing in five different FIFA World Cup tournaments starting on Thursday, was emotional as Portugal’s national anthem, “A Portuguesa,” played over the stadium before all the action.
Cristiano Ronaldo cries during Portugal’s national anthem
Cristiano Ronaldo cried during Portugal’s national anthem before the match against Ghana at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
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