Ronaldo dkk Harus `Mudik` Meski Portugal Tekuk Ghana 2-1
Ronaldo Heading Home Despite Portugal Defeat Ghana
Editor : Ismail Gani
Translator : Novita Cahyadi
Brasilia (B2B) - Portugal akhirnya menundukkan Ghana 2-1 melalui gol Cristiano Ronaldo pada menit ke-80 dan gol bunuh diri pemain Ghana, John Boye pada menit ke-31, sedang Ghana membalas pada menit ke-57 memalui Asamoah Gyan pada laga penyisihan Grup G di Stadion Nasional Brasilia, Brasil, Kamis malam.
Kendati Portugal menang dengan poin 4 yang sama poin dengan Amerika Serikat (AS) (4), tapi Portugal gagal mejau ke 16 Besar Piala Dunia, karena selisih gol AS lebih baik. Pertandingan yang sama di Grup G Jerman menundukkan AS 1-0. Kedudukan akhir Jerman urutan pertama, AS urutan kedua, Portugal urutan ketiga dan Ghana urutan keempat di Grup G, seperti dilansir Yahoo Sports.
Pada babak pertama Portugal unggul 1-0 pada menit ke-31 gol bunuh diri pemaian belang Ghna John Boye. Bek tengah Boye memotong umpan silang dari kiri yang dikirimkan Miguel Veloso ke gawangnya sendiri pada menit ke-31.
Portugal, yang perlu menang besar dan berharap Jerman dan AS tidak bermain imbang di Recife, sempat memiliki peluang pada awal pertandingan ketika upaya kapten sekaligus pemain terbaik dunia Cristiano Ronaldo membentur tiang gawang sebelum digagalkan Fatawu Dauda.
Sebaliknya, Ghana selama babak pertama berhasil melepaskan enam tendangan ke gawang Portugal, tiga diantara berpotensi gol, namun tendangan mereka berhasil ditepis kiper Portugal, Beto.
Hingga 45 babak pertama selelai, posisi bola sebanyak 54% dikuasai Portugal, dan 46% dikuasai Ghana, dan pada menit ke 38 pemain Ghana Harrison Afful, mendapat kartu kuning akibat menjegal Ronaldo.
Brasilia - An own goal by John Boye and a late strike by Cristiano Ronaldo gave Portugal a 2-1 win over incident-hit Ghana on Thursday but it was not enough to make the second round as both sides exited the World Cup.
Portugal finished level on four points with the United States in Group G but the Americans advanced to the last 16 courtesy of a better goal difference despite their 1-0 loss to group winners Germany in Recife.
Boye's poor attempt at a first half clearance summed up a disappointing match between two teams who needed big victories in the Brazilian capital to have a chance of advancing.
The defender swiped at a 31st minute cross from Portuguese fullback Miguel Veloso which hit his knee and then the crossbar before nestling in the back of the net.
The goal came after a Ghana break ended when Bahrain official Nawaf Shukralla accidentally blocked an attempted pass, handing possession to the Portuguese who went up field and scored.
The Ghanaians improved after the break and striker Asamoah Gyan headed them level at the back post after a brilliant cross with the outside of his foot by Kwadwo Asamoah in the 57th minute.
