BNews.id - Portugal opened its work in the 2022 World Cup by bringing home three points. In the first match of Group H against Ghana, Portugal managed to win 3-2 at Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, Thursday (24/11/2022) evening WIB.
Portugal managed to score goals through three different players. Cristiano Ronaldo first opened the scoring in the 65th minute via a penalty kick. The next two goals were scored by Joao Felix (78') and Rafael Leao (80').
Ghana itself managed to reply two goals. The first goal was contributed by Andre Ayew in the 73rd minute. Then, the second goal was scored by Osman Bukari in the 89th minute.
Thanks to this victory, Portugal temporarily topped Group H with a collection of three points. Ghana is in bottom place with zero points, below Uruguay and South Korea which both scored one point.
First round
The match took place at a very high tempo. Portugal, with its short ball game, was in no hurry to dismantle Ghana's low block defense.
Portugal just increased its intensity immediately when the gap in the defense of Ghana opened. As happened in the 10th minute when Ronaldo faced one on one with goalkeeper Ati-Zigi. However, Ati-Zigi carefully positioned his body to block Ronaldo's shot.
Ronaldo had shaken the nets of the Ghana goal in the 31st minute. He won the duel against Alexander Djiku in the penalty box. His position was vacant to shoot and successfully beat Ati-Zigi. Unfortunately the referee did not approve the goal because Ronaldo was deemed to have committed a violation against Djiku.
In general, Portugal controlled the first 45 minutes. Ghana was just waiting for Portugal to make a mistake and didn't want to get involved at all for the ball.
Ghana However, Portugal's distribution of the ball was very slow, despite controlling the match by 70 percent. One more problem is the use of Ronaldo as a focal point which actually hinders the creativity of players to threaten Ghana.
Second round
Ghana changed its approach in the second half. The team nicknamed Black Star started trying to control the ball longer.
This approach made it easier for Ghana to reach the final third in a neater way. Even though the first four shots that were fired came from outside the penalty box, all of them. While Ghana was trying to balance the game, Mohammed Salisu was careless when guarding Ronaldo's movements in the penalty box. His violation caused the main referee Ismail Elfath to award a penalty to Portugal.
Ronaldo, who stepped forward as the executioner, managed to kick the ball hard, past the challenge from Ati-Zigi. Portugal was winning 1-0 in the 65th minute.
Ghana did not take long to equalize. The change in approach to the game paid off in the 73rd minute. Through a measured attack on the left wing, Kudus managed to send a cross which was met by Ayew to thrill the Portuguese goal.
However, Portugal also did not take long to score. In the 78th minute, Portugal regained the lead through a goal scored by Felix. His movement to find space behind the Ghana defense line ended with his ability to beat Ati-Zigi in one-on-one situations.
Two minutes later in the 80th minute, Portugal away. This time the goal was scored by Leao who had only come on three minutes earlier. His goal was similar to the second by taking advantage of the space behind the Ghana line and finishing with a first time shot.
Portugal let down for the second time. From the same side, Ghana succeeded in penetrating and releasing a cross for Bukari who was free to head the ball. Ghana reduced the lag in the 89th minute.
Player lineup
Portugal (4-3-3): Diogo Costa; Joao Cancelo, Danilo Pereira, Ruben Dias, Raphael Guerreiro; Ruben Neves (Rafael Leao 77'), Bernardo Silva (Joao Palhinha 88'), Bruno Fernandes; Otavio (William Carvalho 56'), Joao Felix (Joao Mario 88'), Cristiano Ronaldo (Goncalo Ramos 88').
Coach: Fernando Santos
Ghana (5-4-1): Lawrence Ati-Zigi; Alidu Seidu (Tariq Lamptey 66'), Daniel Amartey, Alexander Djiku (Daniel-Kofi Kyereh 90'+3), Mohammed Salisu, Abdul-Rahman Baba; Mohammed Kudus (Osman Bukari 77'), Thomas Partey, Salis Abdul Samed (Antoine Semenyo 90'+3), Andre Ayew (Jordan Ayew 77'); Inaki Williams.
Coach: Otto Addo
Post a Comment