Cristiano Ronaldo scores but victory over Ghana not enough to stop Portugal going home
Portuguese exit on goal difference; controversy-hit Africans also out
An own goal by John Boye and a late strike by Cristiano Ronaldo gave Portugal a 2-1 win over incident-hit Ghana on Thursday 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 United States 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 in Recife.
"We created a lot of chances we didn’t convert all of them, we needed three goals and we were depending on the Germany result. It wasn’t possible," Ronaldo told reporters.
"We knew it was complicated, that’s football, we leave with our heads held high, we tried out best and we didn’t succeed."
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.