Ghana ended Africa’s wait for a first goal at the 2022 FIFA World Cup but ended up on the losing side of a 3-2 defeat to Portugal in Group H at the Stadium 974 on Thursday evening.
The first meaningful moment of the match came in the 10th minute when free agent Cristiano Ronaldo aimed for the net but the Black Stars goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi was quick to react to it.
Much of the first-half was a cagey affair with both sides offering little threat at either end of the pitch.
Ronaldo thought he had scored in the 30th minute but it was ruled out for offside due to a foul outside of the box in the build up to the goal.
It was goalless at halftime and upon resumption, it was the Ghanaians who had the first opportunity to score, Ajax Amsterdam star Mohammed Kudus beating a few opposition players and then taking a shot from the edge of the penalty box, however, his effort narrowly didn’t go in.
Alidu Seidu was lucky not to be sent off in the 57th minute after headbutting an opponent which required a VAR check.
Portugal finally got their goal and the lead thanks to Ronaldo. The 37-year-old was brought down in the box and he cooly converted the resultant penalty, becoming the first player to score at five different World Cups.
Ghana equalised 10 minutes later thanks to Andre Ayew who finished off well after receiving a delightful pass. This meant an African representative has at least a goal in their first round of matches at this tournament after Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia and Cameroon failed to do so.
Otto Addo’s team raised the tempo in search of the winner but it was short-lived as Joao Felix smashed in a powerful shot into the top corner of the net after receiving a beautiful pass from Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes.
AC Milan’s Rafael Leao made it 3-1 not long after, with Fernandes providing another fantastic assist.
Ghana cut the deficit just before the 90th minute with Osman Bukari connecting to a nice cross and heading the ball home.
The Red Star Belgrade forward almost made it 3-3 deep into stoppage time but his effort from outside the box narrowly went over the crossbar.
Ghana will hope to get their first win of the competition when they take on South Korea at Education City Stadium next.
The Portuguese, meanwhile, will face Uruguay in a mouth-watering encounter in Lusail.
