catalyst2 | Game # 45 - Portugal vs Ghana (Reply)

Both teams had the potential to go through to the next round as long as they scored enough goals and the USA lost by a good margin so there was plenty at stake for both teams here. It meant that both teams not only had to attack but they couldn't even sit back on a one goal lead. It meant there would be attacking aplenty - and there was although it was a strangely disjointed game as neither side's attack really flowed well. Ronaldo had, what would be by any other player's standards a good game, but by his it was a poor game even though he scored the winning goal. Sadly it was not enough to win the game - it really needed to be by at least three more goals and, despite a number of chances to add to the tally, Portugal just could not get there.

Both sides were eliminated and that was a loss for the tournament because both could be every exciting attacking sides but there are no points in potential, only in actual results and neither managed that. Ronaldo is clearly not at peak fitness and it sad to see such a wonderful player look so ordinary at times.