Cristiano, high five

Inaki Williams was able to bring joy to the country of his parents in the 100th minute and, in turn, mark Diogo Costa with a cross for life. But the striker slipped when he had taken the goalkeeper’s wallet, who was confident letting the ball loose to serve long without sinning that the Athletic man was behind. Portugal thus added, with unexpected anguish, its first victory in Qatarunexpected due to the superiority shown by those from Santos until Cristiano’s first goal and distressing due to the final madness, with another four goals in 16′.

Cristiano’s, 1-0, was as controversial as it was historicbecause it came from a penalty that was not and because it made him the first footballer in history to score in five World Cups, surpassing four in Pelé, Uwe Seeler, Klose and Messi. Bruno Fernandes, the best of all, Joao Felix, Rafael Leao and Williams’ slip They ended up being decisive for Cristiano to celebrate his umpteenth record with a smile and not with tears, which was how he sang his country’s anthem at the beginning of his adventure in what seems to be his last World Cup.

The thing about Portugal was a want and I can’t in the first part and the thing about Ghana, a regret for the viewer. Otto Addo’s men felt with the ball like an English tourist with a glass of water in Benidorm, not knowing what to do, and in their possession it lasted less than a beer to the foreigner in question. The first time they gave more than eight passes in a row was half an hour into the game and at half-time they left with only 26% possession and not one shot on goal.

Fernando Santos ventured a meeting with such a script and that is why he opted to surround Cristiano with gamers, including Joao Félix, protagonist in the result and also in one of the various controversies that surrounded the American Ismael Elfath, whose arbitration was not up to the stage. On the edge of the break, Djiky kicked Joao Felix in his desire to clear, although the referee interpreted that there was a foul by the Portuguese. Before, he had canceled a goal canceled by Cristiano due to a struggle also with Djiky, of which if it is the other way around it is not a penalty. But of course, seeing the one that did whistle…

Portugal went to the locker room with a face of what are we doing. Their dominance had only served them to generate two chances for Cristiano: a one-on-one with the goalkeeper and another with a header after a meter and a half jump with which others, at 37, leave their hips when falling.

Portugal’s problem was that they insisted on going inside and always touching the foot, without depth or unchecking. Thus Ghana felt comfortable, with its line of five behind and a containment trivote, and the minimum that came that did not reach the cut, a lack of those that unhinged the rival. But the one who ended up driving the Ghanaians unhinged was Ismael Elfath and his colleague Armando Villarreal, because the first awarded a penalty for nothing and the other did not say a word from the VAR. What Salisu did was not a penalty but to win the position from Cristiano.

The historic goal of ‘7’ stirred up the game. From almost nothing happening in 65 ‘to seeing five goals until the end That is why it is said that the goal is the sauce of soccer, because from one came the frenzy. Perhaps Ghana remembered that Arabia and Japan had come from behind after receiving a penalty and got closer to Diogo Costa than ever before. Partey warned and Ayew scored the first goal for an African team in Qatar. In Portugal, ghosts were seen until Bruno Fernandes appeared, with two assists, and Joao Felix to put the result in the logical drawer. From the rojiblanco it was 2-1 and from his recovery Leao’s 3-1 was born. Bukari, after Cancelo’s blunder, added emotion to the discount and at the last second… Iñaki Williams slipped.