Raised feet... Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (left) leaps to reach the ball ahead of Ghana’s Harrison Afful during yesterday’s game.Raised feet... Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (left) leaps to reach the ball ahead of Ghana’s Harrison Afful during yesterday’s game.

Portugal 2
Boye 31og, Ronaldo 80;
Ghana 1
Gyan 57;

An own goal by John Boye and a late strike by Cristiano Ronaldo gave Portugal a 2-1 win over incident-hit Ghana yesterday but it was not enough to make the second round as both sides exited the World Cup.

Portugal finished level on four points with the US in Group G but the Americans advanced to the last 16 courtesy of a better goal difference despite their 1-0 loss to group winners Germany.

Boye’s poor attempt at a first-half clearance summed up a disappointing match between two teams who needed big victories in the Brazilian capital to have a chance of advancing.

The defender swiped at a 31st-minute cross from Miguel Veloso which hit his knee and then the crossbar before nestling in the back of the net.

The goal came after a Ghana break ended when Bahrain official Nawaf Shukralla accidentally blocked an attempted pass, handing possession to the Portuguese who went upfield and scored.

The Ghanaians improved after the break and striker Asamoah Gyan headed them level at the back post after a brilliant cross with the outside of his foot by Kwadwo Asamoah in the 57th minute.

Gyan then turned provider, putting in another ball from the left for an unmarked Abdul Majeed Waris moments later but the striker could only steer his header wide.

The wasted effort proved costly as Ronaldo put his side ahead in the 80th minute after Ghana goalkeeper Fatawu Dauda flapped at a high ball, sending it straight to the Real Madrid forward. Ronaldo should have had another minutes later but Dauda parried his effort from close range, with the keeper also blocking an attempt from the Portugal ace in the dying stages.

Prince, Muntari out

The World Cup exit completed a miserable two days for the Africans who were embroiled in a pay row and kicked out midfielders Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari for ill-discipline hours before yesterday’s kick-off.

Portugal: 22-Beto (89 1-Eduardo); 21-Joao Pereira (61 18-Silvestre Varela), 3-Pepe, 2-Bruno Alves; 6-William Carvalho, 4-Miguel Veloso, 8-Joao Moutinho, 17-Nani, 20-Ruben Amorim; 11-Eder (69 10-Vierinha), 7-Cristiano Ronaldo

Ghana: 16-Fatawu Dauda; 23-Harrison Afful, 21-John Boye, 19-Jonathan Mensah; 20-Kwadwo Asamoah, 7-Christian Atsu, 8-Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, 10-Andre Ayew ( 81 22-Mubarak Wakaso), 17-Mohamed Rabiu (76 6-Acquah Afriye); 18-Abdul Majeed Waris (71 13-Jordan Ayew), 3-Asamoah Gyan.

Referee: Nawaf Shukralla (Bahrain).

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