Portugal reaches next stage, US, Ghana stay alive
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-06-18 08:29 Ghana's coach Ratomir Dujkovic, however, believed a far better result should
come from the performance of his team.
"I was surprised that we just win 2-0," he joked at a post-match press
conference.
Asamoah Gyan netted in the first-ever score for the Black Stars in the Finals
in just 75 seconds, as he chested down a centered ball from captain Stephen
Appiah and fired past Petr Cech with an unstoppable low shot after the Czechs
failed to clear their lines following a corner.
Sulley Muntari scored the second in 82 minutes, coolly finishing a cross from
Gyan to the roof of the net after the latter broke forward down the right,
steadied himself and squared the ball to Muntari.
Portugal midfielder Deco, voted Man of the Match against Iran, scored the
opener with a powerful drive. Cristiano Ronaldo sealed the win from the spot
after Luis Figo was brought down in the box.
Portugal squandered a few chances in the first half, with striker Pauleta the
main culprit.
Iran's defence shook in the second half. In the 63rd minute, Portugal finally
seized their chance as Figo laid off the ball to Deco, who sent a curling
right-footed shot straight into the corner of the net from 20 yards out.
Figo created another chance in the 78th minute when he was tripped by Yahya
Golmohammadi on the edge of the box. French referee Eric Poulat pointed to the
spot.
Ronaldo coolly stepped up for the penalty and drove it cleanly home to
stretch Portugal's lead. Luiz Felipe Scolari punched the air in delight as
Ronaldo sank to his knees.
Rasoul Khatibi wasted a great chance to level for Iran, just minutes after
coming on to the field. With the Portugal defence in disarray, he received a
long ball in the box but his shot glanced across the face of the goal.
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