Ghana Suffer Defeat in Group H Opener After Five Goal Thriller Against Portugal

• The Black Stars of Ghana have lost their opening Group H game against Portugal at the World Cup in Qatar
• A second half thriller saw Portugal score three goals through Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix and Rafael Leao
• The Black Stars will next face Asian giants South Korea, who drew with Uruguay in their first group game

Five second-half goals ensured Portugal beat Ghana in their opening Group H game at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored in his fifth World Cup, and Joao Felix and Rafael Leao also netted for the Europeans, while Ghana reduced the deficit through Andre Ayew and Osman Bukari.

Portugal began the game dominating possession, winning a corner kick after just three minutes, but the set piece was well-defended by the Black Stars.

Alidu Seidu gave Ghana a sigh of relief after running down the right, but the Clermont Foot defender's cross did not meet its target.

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Cristiano Ronaldo had the best chance to give the Portuguese the lead after he was sent through by Bernardo Silva, but the Portugal talisman was denied by goalkeeper Richard Ati Zigi.

The ex-Manchester United player had another opportunity few minutes later, but solid defending from Ghana left Ronaldo hapless.

Ajax star Mohammed Kudus' faint pass on the other hand could not find Williams, who was in a very good position.

A few minutes later, Ronaldo thought he had given Portugal the lead on the half-hour mark after slotting home from inside the box, but the referee whistled for a foul on Alexander Djiku.

Ghana won back-to-back corner kicks but the team failed to make it count, with Danilo Pareira defending resolutely.

The Europeans returned from the break determined to escape the deadlock but it was Ghana who tried from afar, with Seidu firing from distance.

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But after the hour mark, Ronaldo was awarded a penalty after he was shoved off the ball by Mohammed Salisu. The former Manchester United player made no mistake from the spot.

Ghana levelled through captain Andre Ayew ten minutes later, who connected to a fine pass from Mohammed Kudus.

Two minutes later, the Portuguese took the lead again after a mistake in the middle, leading to a Joao Felix lifting the ball over Ati Zigi.

Second half substitute Rafael Leao extended the lead for Portugal with ten minutes remaining.

Ayew scores Africa's first goal

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Andre Ayew became the first player to score a goal for an African nation at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The Black Stars captain connected to a Mohammed Kudus pass, to level the scoreline in Ghana's Group H opener against Portugal.

Ronaldo had scored the opener from the spot for the 2016 European champions, before the Al Sadd forward levelled ten minutes later.