Ghana was eliminated from the world cup group stage for the first time in her history as the team fell limply to a 1-2 loss to Portugal.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s 80th minute goal separated the two sides after Asamoah Gyan’s 3rd of the tournament cancelled John Boye’s own goal which had given Portugal the lead.
Both Ghana and Portugal needed big wins and a stroke of luck in the other game to stand any chance of making it to the second round from Group G.
And Germany delivered on their end of the bargain, beating the USA by a lone Muller goal; but the Black Stars found the going against a Christiano Ronaldo inspired Portugeuse side a little too hot to handle.
Amidst stories of camp brawls, verbal abuse, and strike threats, the Black Stars had to lift themselves to try and get the win without suspended duo Sulley Muntari and Kevin Prince Boateng.
This precipitated two changes from the last line-up, Agyeman Badu and Abdul Majeed Warris coming on for the duo.
The game began at a slow pace and it took until the 5th minute for the first chance to be fashioned.
Cristiano Ronaldo got away down the right but his cross-cum-shot hit the upright leaving Fatau Dauda stranded.
Portugal continued to threaten particularly down the flanks, where Ronaldo and Miguel Veloso had free rein and kept pouring in dangerous balls.
In the 12th minute a trademark Cristiano Ronaldo free kick was parried away by Fatau Dauda for a corner, which was promptly cleared away by the Ghanaian defence.
The Black Stars could not particularly get the ball out of defence but fashioned a few chances, Asamoah Gyan getting on the end of most of the crosses into the box.
He shot straight at Beto from point blank range in the 20th minute after outmuscling Bruno Alves, then had his header from a Kwadwo Asamoah freekick saved by Beto in the 23rd. He failed to get on the end of another cross in the 35th minute despite being in a very good position.
Veloso continued to get into good crossing positions and it finally paid off in the 30th minute when a low cross bounced just at the wrong time, hit John Boye’s knee and headed straight for the Ghanaian net past the outstretched hands of Fatau Dauda.
Dauda, who had a good game saved a howler for Portugal’s second, made an incredible save from a Ronaldo header at point blank range to keep Ghana in the game.
The half ended with the referee waving away half hearted penalty appeals from Ghana after Gyan and Bruno Alves had a tussle in the box.
The second half saw the Stars raise their game as they searched for the equaliser they needed to have any chance of progressing with Gyan once again the fulcrum of all Ghana’s offensive play.
And the equaliser arrived in the 56th minute after a free flowing move involving Andre Ayew, Kwadwo Asamoah, and Gyan; who rose unchallenged to meet the Juventus wingers’ cross from the left.
Five minutes later Ghana should have taken the lead, as a Gyan cross found Warris unmarked, but the forward headed wide with the goal at his mercy.
That was the last good thing from the Stars for a while, as Portugal took over the game searching for a winner unlikely to do them much good.
Ghana’s right continued to leak, as Miguel Veloso and Cristiano Ronaldo continued to combine to deadly effect, and it came as no surprise when the winner once again came from that direction.
A cross was headed vertically by Jonathan Mensah, but goalkeeper Dauda parried it back into play instead of into touch, and Ronaldo was waiting to coolly slot home with a powerful shot.
The goal knocked the wind right out of the sails of the Black Stars, as the team seemed shell-shocked and unable to string balls together anymore. Kwesi Appiah tried to make some changes, bringing on Jordan Ayew, Afriyie Acquah, and Mubarak Wakaso to no avail.
Wakaso pulled a ‘Jordan’ in the 81st minute, electing to shoot from long range when Gyan was free to his side.
The last ten minutes were all Portugal, as they searched for an additional goal but Dauda stood firm, saving thrice from Ronaldo to keep the score at a respectable 2-1.
The final kick of the game fell to Gyan, whose free kick went wide before the final whistle to send the Black Stars packing from the world cup with a measly one point.
You guys tried but you disappoint us ,confusion everywhere ,in saw it coming but I still have hope in you …you killed my joy