Cristiano Ronaldo made historical past as he grew to become the primary participant to attain in 5 World Cups, powering Portugal to a 3-2 victory over Ghana on Day 5 of the World Cup in Qatar.
The 37-year-old struck a thumping 61st-minute penalty to place Fernando Santos’s aspect forward within the Group H encounter at Stadium 974 in Doha, with the striker eager to point out off his skills to potential new golf equipment following an acrimonious cut up this week with Manchester United.
Portugal’s benefit didn’t final lengthy with Ghana captain Andre Ayew drawing his aspect stage within the 73rd minute, marking the primary objective by an African aspect at this 12 months’s event.
The Black Stars’s raucous followers broke out in celebration after watching their crew fail to take a single shot within the first 45 minutes.
However the jubilant scenes had been short-lived, as Portugal turned up the warmth with Joao Felix and Rafael Leao scoring twice within the following seven minutes to make it 3-1 on the 80-minute mark.
Any hopes Portugal had of a cushty stroll to victory, nonetheless, had been shaken by Ghana’s Osman Bukari, who made it 3-2 within the 89th minute.
A tense 9 minutes of additional time adopted however Portugal held on to take three factors and put themselves on the prime of the group.
Portugal are subsequent in motion on Monday in opposition to Uruguay. Ghana play South Korea on the identical day.
Brazil opened their marketing campaign for the World Cup in type with Richarlison powering the event favourites to a 2-0 victory in opposition to Serbia on the Lusail Stadium.
The 25-year-old striker scored simply after the one-hour mark within the Group G fixture and went on so as to add a spectacular second objective shortly afterwards within the 73rd minute.
Serbia, who had supplied staunch resistance for the primary two-thirds of the sport, had been left to chase shadows as Brazil’s gamers zipped the ball round and staged common raids on their opponents’ field, underlining their credentials as probably the most harmful aspect within the competitors.
However there was concern about star ahead Neymar.
The 30-year-old had helped Selecao win the 2013 Confederations Cup and its first Olympic gold medal on the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Video games however he limped out of the motion in opposition to Serbia within the eightieth minute after receiving a knock to his proper ankle.
Neymar has had issues with that foot earlier than and the Paris St Germain participant sat on the bench together with his face lined whereas he acquired remedy for the rest of the match.
Brazil’s win leaves them prime of Group G, adopted by Switzerland.
The South American giants, who’re in the hunt for a sixth World Cup win, will play Switzerland on Monday. Serbia will play Cameroon on the identical day.
Uruguay and South Korea kicked off their World Cup campaigns at Training Metropolis Stadium in Doha with a fast-paced recreation that resulted in a goalless draw.
Regardless of an absence of targets, the ambiance within the stadium was electrical, with South Korean followers banging on drums all through the sport.
Uruguay – often known as La Celeste – got here closest to scoring when Diego Godin hit the put up with a header within the first half. Federico Valverde hit the put up once more within the 89th minute with a long-range effort.
South Korea additionally had a number of probabilities and shall be annoyed that Hwang Ui-jo couldn’t do extra after he discovered himself unmarked within the thirty seventh minute.
Enjoying on the Al Janoub stadium, Switzerland edged previous a full of life Cameroon aspect of their Group G recreation, sustaining their unbeaten file of their opening video games on the World Cup.
Ahead Breel Embolo scored the successful objective for Switzerland within the first half.
The 25-year-old was born in Cameroon’s capital, Yaoundé, however moved to Switzerland together with his household and have become a Swiss citizen shortly after his 18th birthday.
After scoring, Embolo raised his arms in an apologetic method as teammates celebrated round him. He pointed in direction of Swiss followers behind the objective the place he had scored, then to Cameroon followers on the reverse nook of the stadium.
Cameroon had been the higher aspect within the opening half, whereas Switzerland pulled themselves collectively within the second.
Following their 1-0 victory, Switzerland are on account of play Brazil on Monday, whereas Cameroon will face off in opposition to Serbia.
Off the pitch:
Social media sensation
Abubakr Abbass, a 23-year-old from Kenya, has emerged as a fan favorite – and unintended social media sensation – in Qatar.
Sat on a tennis-umpire chair and sporting a big foam finger, he guides the tons of of followers visiting the historic market, known as Souq Waqif, to the metro station close by with the assistance of his trusted megaphone.
His useful recommendation, “Metro? This manner. Metro? This manner,” has now grow to be a catchphrase.
“I noticed him on TikTok. I assumed it was actually humorous. He makes me snort; it’s such a easy job,” stated a younger fan wearing a Chelsea soccer shirt.
Faux video on Ukraine followers
Al Jazeera has stated a video attributed to the information community and circulating on social media is pretend.
The video claims that three “drunken” Ukrainian soccer followers had been arrested and had additionally unfold “Nazi symbols” in Doha.
“The video in query is totally pretend and Al Jazeera has by no means revealed any information associated to this story,” Al Jazeera stated in an announcement.
The video’s most important message in regards to the “Ukrainian Nazis” echoes pro-Russian misinformation circulating on the web.
“The fundamental Russian narrative for export is the allegedly ‘Nazi’ character of Ukraine’s political regime,” Kyiv-based analyst Aleksey Kushch instructed Al Jazeera.
The claims “function justification of the conflict each for [a] home [Russian] viewers and for international [audiences]”, Kushch stated.
Whereas Ukraine has some outspoken far-right, ultra-nationalist and white supremacist teams, their present affect on Ukraine’s political life is proscribed.
