FIFA World Cup 2022, Portugal vs Ghana highlights: Ronaldo's record goal helps POR beat GHA 3-2 in thriller

Wow Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa almost committed what could have gone down as the blunder of the tournament to almost squander the lead in the last 10 seconds of the match. He rolled the ball forward after catching it at the end of a hopeful cross into the box. Inaki Williams had darted forward to claim it before running past Costa and it seems the latter was unaware of the presence of the Bilbao forward. He rolls the ball forward to take a leisurely kick, only to latter scramble after it after Williams charged towards it and almost turned it into the back of the net. A chaotic finish to the match after a completely flat first half. That's football for you. At the end of it all, Portugal claim all three points. That was fun right? Well there could be more fun an hour later as the Brazilians finally play their first match. Do join us over there as we sign off from here. Tatass!! 

Some aggressive discussions leads to Inaki Williams getting a cautioning. Portugal had taken off Joao Felix, Ronaldo and Bernardo Silva for Joao Palinha, Joao Maria and Goncalo Ramos.

Portugal just made a triple substitution and one of the players they took off was Ronaldo. Cross comes in from the left and Pereira seems to be asleep as Bukari comes in to turn it into the goal. Bukaro goes ahead and does a Ronaldo celebration to boot. 

Ghana are everywhere at the moment defensively. Ronaldo is released down the right but he can't find a way past the goalkeeper. The flag is also raised for offside. 

80 mins: Wow, he has been on the field for only a few seconds and he has found the back of the net with a neat finish. Portugal may just have put the game to bed now. Bruno Fernandes with a perfectly weighted through ball down the left, Leao opens up his body and caresses it past the goalkeeper at the fat post. 

68 mins: Lovely finish from Joao Felix and Portugal's lead is restored! Three goals in just 13 minutes here. Felix charges into the box and lifts it over the goalkeeper expertly. 

73 mins: Kudus squares it from the right and Ayew turns it into the empty net. What a response this has been from Ghana. Kudus had let out a ripper of a shot from distance just before this and the African side have taken the attaack to the Portgueuese after that Ronaldo goal. 

68 mins: About three minutes after the restart, Partey takes a shot from distance and that goes over the goal. The Portugal fans have found their voice now.  

65 mins: The Portugal captain becomes the first to score in five different World Cups. Lengthy protests from the Ghana players and when the box is finally cleared, Ronaldo lasers the ball past the goalkeeper.  

62 mins: Ronaldo comes together with Salisu and goes down, referee points to the spot immediately. Wonder if VAR will take a look at that. It seems the decision has been upheld, Cristiano Ronaldo stands over the ball. Now then…

57 mins: An argument between Felix and Seidu. Seidu moves his head towards Felix's, makes contact, and the latter falls down like a sack of stones. Seidu then proceeds to pull him back on his feet and the Portugal players are not happy about it. The referee gives Seidu a talking to and that is the end of that, for now. Seidu is on a yellow card, remember. Some much needed spice in this match. 

56 mins: Kudus charges forward and drills a shot from distance. It was a good effort and fizzes just wide of the post. 

Ayew booked for a clumsy tackle on Otavio. More of the same thus far in the second half, Portugal hogging possession but unable to do much with it. 

No changes at half time for either side. Lots of gesticulations between the Portugal attackers though, wonder if there has been any change in plans. We will find out soon enough, Ghana kick off the second half. 

Portugal have done nearly all the attacking but managed just two shots on target. 62 percent of possession for them. Ghana have managed no shots at all. All in all, a rather underwhelming first half really.

45 mins: Yellow card for a high foot for Mohammad Kudus on Joao Cancelo. 

37th min: Would you believe it, Ghana actually have some attack to do! The corner comes to nothing of course, being headed clear by Ronaldo of all people. Who says he doesn't defend?

31 min: Ronaldo turns away from Alexander Djiku to get to a pass from Felix and finishes it nicely to find the back of the net but the referee has blown the whistle for a foul. It is against Ronaldo for the contact he made with Djiku while turning away from him. It is a loose one and Ronaldo looks livid, as you would expect him to. 

Good work by Ronaldo and Fernandes down the right allows Guerrero to send a cross in and that is headed clear by Amartey. Goalkeepers have had little to nothing to do thus far.  

The Ghana fans have brought the party to the stands but neither of the teams have done anything of the sort in the middle. Ghana have been patiently letting Portugal have all the possession they want, Portugal have done practically nothing with it. This game could use some infusion of energy. 

13th min: Cross from the left, Ronaldo brings out one of his monster jumps and it looks like this is going to be a clear goal. Only that it isn't, he heads it down to the wrong side of the bar with half of the goal gaping unguarded in front of him. If one forgets all the drama from THAT interview, one would remember that Ronaldo had been in pretty rotten form this season with Manchester United and it was exactly these kinds of chances that he was missing. 

10th min: Fantastic work from Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi to thwart the Portugal captain. Ghana lose the ball carelessly just ahead of their final third, Fernandes passes the ball forward to an utterly scot-free Ronaldo. He was not given time for a proper first tuch though as the keeper ran forward and cleared the threat. 

Set pieces at both ends that come to nothing. Ghana had got a free kick which was conceded by Ronaldo. Portugal, on the other hand, had won a corner from which Octavio's shot goes wide. 

Ronaldo kicks it off in Doha. Portugal in red and green, Ghana in all whites

Portugal's anthem plays out first, Ronaldo looking like he had tears in his eyes as he sang it before beaming with a smile at the end of it. Then came Ghana's national anthem. The team photographs followed, the coin toss has been done and Portugal will now kick it all off.