Ronaldo reaps Russian respite Superstar puts his problems aside to power Portugal past Confed Cup host
MOSCOW — Cristiano Ronaldo brushed aside his offfield problems by netting the winner as Portugal edged host Russia 1-0 at the Confederations Cup on Wednesday.
In other action, Oribe Peralta gave Mexico a 2-1 comeback win over New Zealand.
Ronaldo’s eighth-minute header in Moscow gave Portugal its first win in the tournament. Victory over New Zealand on Saturday would secure a semifinal spot for the European champion.
Goals from Peralta and Raul Jimenez saw Mexico move above Portugal, thanks to a superior goals-scored tally, to the top of Group A.
Ronaldo let his feet do the talking following recent taxevasion accusations that have left his Real Madrid future uncertain, producing his second man-of-the-match performance following Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Mexico.
The 32-year-old forward said Portugal deserved the victory after surviving a secondhalf Russian rally.
“We’re very happy because it’s the first time Portugal has won in Russia,” Ronaldo said.
“The team played very well against a side playing at home with the support of their fans. But we were better, we had more chances.”
Ronaldo is accused by Spanish authorities of evading pay- ing $16.5 million in tax and has been summoned to appear in a Madrid court next month.
But he was all smiles, escorting a young mascot in a wheelchair onto the Spartak Stadium pitch before netting his first Confederations Cup goal.
Portugal’s win came at a cost though, as Borussia Dortmund defender Raphael Guerreiro sustained a suspected broken leg in the 65th minute.
“He is hospitalized and we think he broke his leg,” said Portugal coach Fernando Santos.
Guerreiro’s hanging leftwing cross found Ronaldo, who rose at the far post to head past goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev.
Only a superb one-handed reflex save from Akinfeev, who earned his 100th cap, stopped Andre Silva’s bullet header just after the break.
The host was unlucky not to force an equalizer after a string of chances in a strong second-half showing.
Defender Georgy Dzhikiya headed narrowly over the bar from a corner in added time.
Mexico needed second-half goals by Benfica forward Jimenez and Peralta, who plays for Club America in his homeland, to see off New Zealand in a bad-tempered affair in Sochi.
Juan Carlos Osorio’s side now just needs a draw against Russia in Kazan on Saturday to be sure of reaching the semifinals.
The Kiwis’ superb first-half display and a goal by Leeds United striker Chris Wood rattled Mexico and a tense match boiled over with a mass brawl in the dying stages.
It turned when Porto midfielder Hector Herrera was introduced after the interval to spark Mexico’s offense.
“I am proud of what my team did, it’s normal to have to suffer at this level, but we deserved to win,” said Osorio.
“We know how to adapt to different opponents.”
New Zealand coach Anthony Hudson — son of former Chelsea legend Alan — had vowed his squad would bounce back after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Russia, and he was true to his word.
“Everyone is incredibly disappointed in the dressing room and we feel we should have got more,” said Hudson.
The Oceania champion led when Clayton Lewis found Wood, who coolly fired home in the 42nd minute.
After Herrera’s introduction, Javier Aquino forced Kiwi keeper Stefan Marinovic into a left-handed save, before LA Galaxy’s Giovani dos San- tos fired over the bar.
Mexico equalized when Aquino broke down the left flank and passed to Marco Fabian, who squared for forward Jimenez to finish in the 54th minute.
With 18 minutes remaining, Aquino teed up 33-year-old Peralta to complete the dramatic comeback.
Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo is ready to pay Spain’s tax authorities $16.5 million — the amount he has been accused of defrauding by a prosecutor — ahead of a court hearing next month, Spanish state TV said on Wednesday.
Without identifying its sources, TVE claimed the 32-yearold would make the payment as a gesture of goodwill.
The report added Ronaldo will reiterate at a hearing on July 31 that he is innocent and has never hidden any income from the taxman or committed any tax fraud in Spain.
Representatives for Ronaldo declined to comment.
The Spanish prosecutor has accused the Real Madrid forward of knowingly using a business structure to hide his image-rights income in Spain between 2011 and 2014. Ronaldo has denied the charges.