(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo shrugged off his bitter split
with Manchester United to claim yet another record as he became the
first player to score in five World Cups with a penalty to help
steer his side to a nervy 3-2 win over Ghana on Thursday, trend reports citing reuters .
The first-half of the Group H clash was forgettable apart from a
couple of Ronaldo chances, but it burst into life after the
interval as Portugal belatedly began their campaign.
Ronaldo, a free agent after his second stint at Old Trafford
ended abruptly on Tuesday, thumped home a dubiously-awarded penalty
in the 65th minute after an innocuous coming together with Mohammed
Salisu saw the referee point to the spot.
Ghana did nothing in the first half apart from defend deeply but
gave their noisy bank of fans in the 974 Stadium something to cheer
when Andre Ayew equalised in the 73rd minute.
Joao Felix restored Portugal's lead five minutes later, however,
and Bruno Fernandes then showed his class with a jinking run before
sliding a pass to Rafael Leao to leave Ghana stunned.
Osman Bukari's 89th-minute headed reply set up an anxious ending
for Portugal but they survived nine minutes of stoppage time to win
their opening game of a World Cup for the first time in their last
four appearances.
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