Off-field drama not too taxing
RONALDO: STAR IN GREAT NICK DESPITE PROBLEMS
Mexico leave it late to send New Zealand packing.
Moscow
Cristiano Ronaldo brushed aside his offfield problems by scoring the winner as Portugal edged out hosts Russia 1-0 at the Confederations Cup on Wednesday, before Mexico came from behind to beat New Zealand 2-1.
Ronaldo’s eighth-minute header in Moscow gave Portugal their first win in the tournament and victory over New Zealand tomorrow would secure a semifinal spot.
He has been accused by Spanish authorities of evading €14.7 million in tax and has been summoned to appear in court next month in Madrid.
Ronaldo let his football do the talking with his second Man-ofthe-Match performance following Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Mexico.
The forward said Portugal were worthy winners after surviving a second-half Russian fightback.
“We’re very happy, it’s the first time Portugal have won in Russia. We played very well against a side playing at home with the support of their fans. But we were better, we had more chances,” he said.
Portugal’s win came at a cost though, as Borussia Dortmund defender Raphael Guerreiro had to be helped off on 65 minutes with a suspected broken leg.
“He was hospitalised and we think he broke his leg,” said Portugal coach Fernando Santos.
Guerreiro’s towering cross from the left flank hung in the air and found Ronaldo, who rose at the far post to head back across Igor Akinfeev.
Only a superb one-handed reflex save from Akinfeev, who made his 100th international appearance, stopped Andre Silva’s bullet header just after the break.
The hosts were unlucky not to force an equaliser after a string of chances in a strong second-half display.
Defender Georgy Dzhikiya headed narrowly over the bar from the game’s final corner in added time.
Later on Wednesday, Mexico needed second-half goals to grab victory over New Zealand in a bad-tempered match at Sochi.
Goals from Oribe Peralta and Raul Jimenez saw Mexico move top of Group A later in the day, above Portugal on goals scored, and knock New Zealand out of the competition.
Juan Carlos Osorio’s side now just need a draw against Russia in Kazan tomorrow to be sure of reaching the semifinals.
The Kiwis’ superb first-half display and Chris Wood’s shock goal rattled Mexico and the match boiled over with a mass brawl in the dying stages.
The match turned when Porto midfielder Hector Herrera came on for the second half and Mexico’s attacks started to flow.
New Zealand coach Anthony Hudson had vowed they would bounce back after the opening 2-0 defeat to Russia and his team were true to his word.
“Everyone is incredibly disappointed, we feel we should have got more,” said Hudson.
The serial Oceania champions took a shock lead when Clayton Lewis threaded a pass to Wood, who coolly fired home on 42 minutes.
Mexico equalised when Aquino broke down the left flank and passed to Marco Fabian, who squared for forward Jimenez to fire home on 54 minutes.
And Peralta hit the winner in the 72nd minute. – AFP