Former West Ham United forward Andre Ayew almost caused a shock in the 2022 World Cup in their opening match with Portugal.
The 2016 European Championship winners kicked off their campaign at this year’s World Cup with a 3-2 win against African nation Ghana.
The game was very tight for the first hour in Group H. However, shortly after the hour mark, Cristiano Ronaldo won a controversial penalty after going down following contact from Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu. Despite a seemingly soft foul, the penalty was given and Ronaldo, who recently left Manchester United by mutual consent, scored. It made him the first player in history to score at five different World Cups.
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Former Hammers striker Ayew however had given Ghana a deserved equaliser just minutes after Ronaldo’s opener, converting from close range at the end of Mohammed Kudus’ deflected cross.
Shortly after scoring, Ayew, who started the game as Ghana’s captain, was taken off and replaced by brother Jordan, who plays for Crystal Palace. Andre scored 12 times in 50 appearances for West Ham between August 2016 and January 2018.
Portugal soon regained their lead five minutes after Ayew’s leveller, with Atletico Madrid striker Joao Felix making it 2-1. Two minutes later, they made it 3-1 with AC Milan’s Rafael Leao coming off the bench to double Portugal’s advantage.
In the closing stages, another former West Ham player, Joao Mario, came on as part of a triple substitution that saw scorers Ronaldo and Felix both taken off. Ghana did get a late second goal when Osman Bukari headed in Baba Rahman’s deflected cross.
Following Uruguay’s goalless draw with South Korea earlier in the day in Group H, Portugal now top the group after the opening game, with Ghana falling to bottom place.
Ghana next take on South Korea on Monday afternoon (1pm UK time) with Portugal taking on Uruguay at 7pm that night.
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