Date: June 26, 2014

Result: Portugal 2-1 Ghana

Scorers:

Portugal:

  • John Boye og 30
  • Cristiano Ronaldo 80

Ghana:

  • Asamoah Gyan 57

Venue: Estadio Nacional, Brasilia

Attendance: 67,540

Match overview: This will be the first ever meeting between Portugal and Ghana. Asamoah Gyan has equalled Roger Milla’s record for most World Cup goals by an African player – they both have five. Cristiano Ronaldo has scored just two World Cup goals despite attempting 62 shots (including blocked).

Key moment: Cristiano Ronaldo hit the bar within the first five minurtes. Had that gone in, perhaps Portugal would have gained the self belief which appeared to be lacking throughout this game. This was a performance that lacked conviction and suggested they didn’t believe that they could qualify for the last 16. 

Man of the match: Joao Moutinho. With Cristiano Ronaldo lacking his usual dynamism, the creative onus fell upon Moutinho. The Monaco midfielder was busy throughout, but a lack of quality around him meant that much of his work came to nothing.

Matter of fact: Asamoah Gyan scored his 6th World Cup to take him past Roger Milla as the highest African goalscorer at the World Cup. Portugal become the 4th of the  world’s top 10 ranked teams not make it through to the last 16.

Talking point: Cristiano Ronaldo will be 33 when the next World Cup comes around. He has virtually carried the team singlehandedly in recent years and it was only his amazing individual performances in the play-offs against Sweden that took Portugal to the finals. In Brazil, though, he has never looked fully fit, and without him at his best, Portugal are a deeply ordinary side.

Stats:

Goal attempts

  • Portugal 19
  • Ghana 17

On target

  • Portugal 10
  • Ghana 6

Corners

  • Portugal 7
  • Ghana 7

Line-ups:

Portugal:

  • 22 Beto (Eduardo – 89′ )
  • 21 João Pereira (Varela – 62′ )
  • 04 Miguel Veloso
  • 06 Carvalho
  • 03 Pepe
  • 02 Bruno Alves
  • 08 João Moutinho
  • 20 Amorim
  • 11 Éder (Vieirinha – 69′ )
  • 17 Nani
  • 07 Ronaldo

Ghana:

  • 16 Dauda
  • 23 Afful
  • 20 Asamoah
  • 17 Rabiu (Acquah – 76′ )
  • 21 Boye
  • 19 Mensah
  • 07 Atsu
  • 08 Badu
  • 03 Gyan
  • 18 Waris  (J.Ayew – 71′ )
  • 10 A.Ayew (Wakaso – 81′ )

Scorers:

Portugal:

  • John Boye og 30
  • Cristiano Ronaldo 80

Ghana:

  • Asamoah Gyan 57

Yellow cards:

Portugal:

  • Moutinho 90+4

Ghana:

  • Afful 39, Waris 59, J Ayew 78

Referee: Nawaf Shukralla (Bahrain)