New Delhi: Cristiano Ronaldo answered questions surrounding his form and finishing ability with a commanding display as Portugal thrashed Uzbekistan 5-0 to move a step closer to securing a place in the Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup.
The 41 year old forward scored twice and became the first player in history to find the net in six different World Cups, bouncing back strongly after criticism following Portugal’s opening 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Portugal dominated proceedings from the outset and produced one of the performances of the tournament so far, with Ronaldo leading the charge as his side climbed to second place in Group K with one match remaining.
England, meanwhile, missed the opportunity to book their place in the knockout stages after being held to a frustrating goalless draw by a disciplined Ghana side in Group L.
Having impressed in their opening victory over Croatia, England struggled to create clear scoring opportunities against Ghana’s organised defence. The African side defended resolutely throughout the contest and secured the point they needed to confirm qualification for the next round.
England were also fortunate to avoid conceding a late penalty after Ghana appealed for a challenge involving Ezri Konsa and substitute Prince Adu inside the box.
Croatia kept their hopes alive with a hard fought 1-0 victory over Panama. The decisive moment arrived in the 54th minute when Ante Budimir finished from close range after a superb delivery from Josip Stanisic following tactical changes from the Croatian bench.
Colombia also secured their place in the Round of 32 with a narrow 1-0 win over DR Congo. Daniel Munoz scored the winning goal in the 76th minute to send Colombia to the top of Group K with six points from two matches.
The South American side will now face Portugal in a crucial final group match, while DR Congo will take on Uzbekistan in their final attempt to keep qualification hopes alive.
