Neues » Perry Solkowski for all of the action

BRASILIA, Brazil -- Cristiano Ronaldos first goal of the World Cup earned Portugal a 2-1 win over Ghana but couldnt prevent his team being eliminated from the tournament along with the Africans on Thursday. Portugal finished level on four points with second-place United States in Group G but with an inferior goal difference. Germany topped the group after beating the U.S. 1-0 in Recife. Ronaldo slammed home the winner at Estadio Nacional with his left foot in the 80th minute to break his drought in Brazil and give Portugal its first win. He barely celebrated, though, with the goal coming too late to help Portugal qualify at the expense of the Americans. "We created many opportunities but we could not finish them," Ronaldo said. "We knew we had to score three goals and were depending on the result of the Germany game and we couldnt do that. "We deserved more, but thats football. We are leaving with our heads held high." Ghana captain Asamaoh Gyans 57th-minute header cancelled out an own goal scored by teammate John Boye in the 31st. It was a bittersweet ending to the World Cup for Ronaldo, who has been nursing a left leg injury and seen the likes of Brazil star Neymar and Argentina captain Lionel Messi upstage him with four goals apiece. The world player of the year earned the man-of-the-match award after a display that could easily have yielded three or four goals. Ronaldo struck the bar in the first half and had two great chances in injury time, but glanced a close-range finish over the bar and then shot straight at Fatawu Dauda when one on one with the goalkeeper. It was too little, too late from Ronaldo, who was downbeat as he trudged off the pitch after the final whistle. The result brought to an end a typically eventful few weeks in Brazil for the Ghanaians, who were part of thrilling games against the United States and Germany before their campaign ended in turmoil on and off the pitch. Their players took to the field in the Brazilian capital amid a dispute with the countrys football federation over alleged unpaid World Cup bonuses. Adding to the chaos, two of the teams star players -- Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng -- were booted out of the squad hours before Thursdays kickoff for disciplinary reasons. "I dont think it had an impact on the game," said Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah, who confirmed that his players received their appearance-fee payments before kickoff as requested. "We had our chances but couldnt take them." It was perhaps no surprise that Ghana delivered its most subdued display of the tournament, ensuring the team finished bottom of the group and resulting in Ronaldo getting time and space to enjoy his most lively performance in Brazil. He could have had a hat trick by the time he finally found the net. An over-hit cross in the fifth minute flew over Dauda and slammed against the bar before the Real Madrid superstar squandered a gilt-edged chance, heading straight at the keeper from six yards (meters) out. After having two stinging shots saved, he was bailed out by Boye, who sliced Miguel Velosos cross into the top corner of his own net to give the Portuguese a halftime lead they just about deserved. Gyan could hardly miss with a header after Kwadwo Asamaohs delicious cross with the outside of his left foot, making it 1-1. With Germany having just taken the lead in Recife, Ghana was only a goal away from progressing at that stage. However, Ronaldo had the final say, making no mistake from eight yards (meters) out after Dauda had parried the ball high into the air. Wholesale NCAA Jerseys . Nick Holden scored two goals and had an assist and the Avalanche held off the Nashville Predators 5-4 Saturday night for their fourth straight victory. Cheap College Jerseys 2020 .Cameron sustained his third concussion in three seasons last week on a hit by Oakland safety Brandion Ross, who was fined $22,050 by the NFL for the helmet-to-helmet blow. https://www.ncaajerseys2020.com/. To get things started, heres a little photo tour to get you acquainted with all the main characters. Fake NCAA Jerseys . The Maple Leafs handed their embattled head coach a two-year contract extension on Thursday, while at the same time announcing that assistants Dave Farrish, Greg Cronin and Scott Gordon will not be back. NCAA Jerseys 2020 . -- Albert Pujols is thrilled to have a reason to forget about his first two disappointing seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.VANCOUVER - After a short break during the group stages of the World Cup, the Major League Soccer season gets back underway on Wednesday night with an all-Canadian clash at BC Place as Vancouver Whitecaps host Montreal Impact (live on TSN and TSN 690 at 9:30pm et/6:30pm pt). The Whitecaps will look to pick up where they left off and cement a place in the Western Conference playoff places, while Montreal will be hoping for a much different story after an extremely disappointing start to the MLS season. Winning the Canadian Championship was the bright spot so far this year for an Impact team that sits bottom of the Eastern Conference. The Form: The Whitecaps enter the match unbeaten in their last seven matches (Won 3, Tied 4) while the Impact have won just twice all season and have only picked up two points from their previous six matches on the road. Vancouver needed a late penalty from Pedro Morales to rescue a point at Philadelphia in their last match, despite leading the game 2-0 at PPL Park. The Whitecaps have been having no trouble scoring goals, but will need to tighten up defensively if they are to build on their excellent start to the year. The Caps havent lost in MLS since April 12 when they were beaten 1-0 by LA Galaxy in California. Vancouver are unbeaten against Eastern Conference opposition so far this season. After beating Toronto FC to be crowned Canadian champions, and winning at home to high flying New England, Montreals revival came to a crashing halt with a 4-2 loss at home to DC United two weeks ago. Things have improved for the Impact since they started the season by taking just three points from a possible 21 through their first seven matches, but they will need to be consistently strong between now and the end of the year if they are to have any chance of getting into the playoff race. The Impact are currently eight points outside the playoff places. With only 13 goals in 13 matches, the Impact are the lowest scoring team in MLS, but the signing of Jack McInerney has proved to be an excellent addition. The Big Question: Will Montreals defence be able to cope with Vancouvers speedsters? The Whitecaps have caused plenty of problems for their opponents this year with lots of attacking options, and Chilean midfielder Pedro Morales proving to be the perfect set-up man. Striker Erik Hurtado has been leading the way in recent games with five goals in his last five matches in all competitions. Hurtado has shown the ability to cause defenders all kinds of problems with his strength and speed, and the Whitecaps can also call upon the pace of Kekuta Manneh and Darren Mattocks. In their last match before the break, Montreal defended poorly and conceded four goals at home to DC United, however, in their previouus game, they managed to keep a clean sheet against a strong New England team.dddddddddddd If the Impact defence isnt switched on from minute one, the Whitecaps young guns could take advantage. Montreal coach Frank Klopas has the chance to make changes in defence if he chooses, with the recent additions of Futty Danso from Portland, and former Sporting KC man Mechack Jerome. The Lineup: There are a few decisions for Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson to make with regards to his starting lineup. Captain Jay DeMerit came off injured in the tie at Philadelphia and is sidelined for six weeks. Robinson will choose from Andy OBrien, Carlyle Mitchell, Johnny Leveron and Christian Dean to fill the two central defensive places. At the other end of the pitch, it is possible the Caps could start with Mattocks and Manneh supporting Hurtado. Robinson has said he would love to see the three players start together at some stage and it is possible that this could be the occasion to try it. If not, one of the Whitecaps two Uruguayans, Sebastien Fernandez or Nicolas Mezquida, could get the start. With Marco Di Vaio and Justin Mapp expected to miss the match through injury, the Impact will be relying on McInerney and Andres Romero to provide a goal scoring edge. Both players have been in good form of late. McInerney has four goals in eight MLS appearances since joining the Impact from Philadelphia, and Romero had scored in his last three MLS matches. The most interesting decision for Montreal will be who Klopas decides to play in defence, and whether or not either Danso or Jerome will be handed an Impact debut. In midfield, Klopas could give a debut to 30-year-old Spaniard Gorka Larrea who played 90 minutes in the reserves against Harrisburg City Islanders last Friday. The Odds: This is only the third meeting between the two sides in Major League Soccer, with the Whitecaps having won both of the previous encounters. Montreal havent played a league match in Vancouver since losing 2-0 in the clubs inaugural MLS game in March 2012, but the Impact were celebrating after their last match at BC Place. A 2-2 tie last spring in the second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship saw Montreal lift the Voyageurs Cup. With Vancouvers strong home form and Montreals difficulties on the road the Whitecaps will be strong favourites heading in. Carl Robinsons team has lost just once at BC Place this season, while the Impact are yet to win away. Where to Watch: Join me along with Jason de Vos and Perry Solkowski for all of the action from BC Place. We are live on TSN with the pre-match show starting at 9:30pm et/6:30pm pt. There will be features on Carl Robinson, Kekuta Manneh, and Montreals Canadian international winger Issey Nakajima-Farran. ' ' '