Portugal have gotten their World Cup campaign off to the ideal start this evening, although their 3-2 victory over Ghana was not short on drama.
The first half was a relatively quiet affair, with the European side having the better of the chances but failing to break the deadlock. The game would burst into life in the second half, starting with a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty just after the hour mark.
Ghana would find themselves back on level terms soon after, although goals from Joao Felix and Rafael Leao would soon give Portugal a two goal lead.
🇵🇹 2-1 🇬🇭
78' Joao Felix puts Portugal back in front
📺 Watch live now on @RTE2 and @RTEplayer: https://t.co/cpCr43tolm
📱Live updates: https://t.co/dPv7qZhhcL#FifaWorldCup #PORGHA pic.twitter.com/TWnaqKnnxZ— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 24, 2022
Osman Bukari would score in the 89h minute to reduce the deficit to the minimum, meaning we were set up for a dramatic finale.
Shay Given winces after Portugal goalkeeping error
The was all but over when Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa claimed a high cross in the final moments of injury time, but there was almost one final twist.
Inaki Williams stood in behind the 23-year old as he looked out on the pitch, and when he dropped the ball to kick it, the Ghana forward pounced.
He would nick it away from his opponents, but unfortunately for him, he slipped at the vital moment as he attempted to score the equaliser.
It almost made for a very dramatic ending.
🇵🇹 3-2 🇬🇭
Full-time: Portugal keeper Diogo Costa had a lucky escape in the dying seconds when he forgot Inaki Williams was behind him
📺 Watch reaction now on @RTE2 and @RTEplayer: https://t.co/cpCr43bf7e
📱Live updates: https://t.co/dPv7qYZ7YD#FifaWorldCup #PORGHA pic.twitter.com/wClLD3xRjv— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 24, 2022
In the end, Portugal managed to just about get away with it.
Of course, we have seen similar incidents in the past.
Shay Given was one of the more high profile victims, with Dion Dublin scoring this goal in a game between Coventry City and Newcastle United back in 1998.
Shay Given is getting serious flashbacks in the RTE studio watching that incident in the Portugal game.
He has never forgotten what Dion Dublin did to him 👀pic.twitter.com/v66J1LDzNq— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) November 24, 2022
The Donegal man was actually in the RTÉ studio for this game, and speaking afterwards, he could help but recall his own similar experience.
I'm the wrong guy in the studio for this, I'm the only Irish man who didn't know where Dublin was!
He went on to admit that he made sure that he never made the mistake again over the course of his career, with Diogo Costa surely set to go down a similar road after this game.
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