Portugal beat Ghana 2-1 but falls out of World Cup

Ghana’s John Boye and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo lie on the ground during the group G World Cup soccer match between Portugal and Ghana at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, June 26, 2014. Ronaldo’s first goal of the World Cup earned Portugal a 2-1 win over Ghana but couldn’t prevent his team being eliminated from the tournament along with the Africans on Thursday. AP PHOTO/MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ

BRASÍLIA, Brazi–Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner for Portugal as they beat Ghana 2-1 in Brasilia in Group G on Thursday but both sides still crashed out of the World Cup.

Ronaldo missed three chances with only goalkeeper Fatawu Dauda to beat that would have been enough to put his side into the last 16.

An own goal from John Boye gave Portugal the lead before Asamoah Gyan equalized for the Black Stars. Ronaldo scored the second half winner but he will be ruing the misses which left Portugal stuck behind second place United States on goal difference. Germany won the group after beating the United States 1-0.