BRUNO HELPS RON RISE TO THE OCCASION

Joy for Fernandes and history boy Cristiano

AN evening that started in tears for Cristiano Ronaldo ended with a place in the history books.

He was named man of the match after becoming the first player to score at five World Cup finals.

But it was a player he’s left behind at Manchester United who dragged Portugal over the winning line. Bruno Fernandes (right with Ronaldo) was his nation’s main man.

After Ronaldo’s penalty had been quickly cancelled out by Andre Ayew, the former Swansea and

West Ham striker, it appeared that Fernando

Santos’ men were in real trouble.

But with

Ghana daring to dream that they could join

Saudi Arabia and Japan as World Cup shock-jocks, that was the cue for Fernandes to set up two goals in the space of three minutes for Joao Felix and substitute Rafael Leao.

Osman Bukari gave the Black Stars hope when he headed home to jangle

Portuguese nerves. They survived the last two minutes and nine minutes of injury-time – but only just.

Keeper Diogo Costa did not spot Inaki Williams lurking behind him when he rolled the ball forward ready to kick clear in the final seconds.

Williams would surely have equalised had he not slipped to allow Danilo to hack the ball clear as it rolled slowly towards goal.

Before the game, Ronaldo’s bottom lip quivered and his eyes moistened as he belted out the Portuguese national anthem. Maybe it was the realisation that this will be his last World Cup, or perhaps his heart has been broken a little by the breakdown of his love affair with United.

And for over an hour, Ronaldo looked every single one of his 37 years.

He missed Portugal’s two best chances of the first half, opportunities he would have taken with his eyes closed during the peak of his career.

But in the 65th minute, he put Pele, Uwe Seeler and Miroslav Klose in the shade by scoring in another World Cup.

Ronaldo tempted Mohammed Salisu into believing the ball could be won and then collapsed when the Southampton defender took a piece of his ankle.

His 118th Portugal goal was a formality.

Ghana, backed by a beautiful soundtrack created by their fans, were level when Ruben Dias allowed Mohammed Kudus to cross and Ayew nipped in to poke the ball home after Danilson and Raphael Guerreiro got into a tangle. Then it was Fernandes time.

First he sprung Felix with a pass in the 78th minute that Baba Rahman should have intercepted and the Atletico Madrid forward lifted a clever finish over Lawrence Ati-zigi.

Then he waited for Leao to gallop down his outside before timing his pass to perfection and the midfielder’s finish was exquisite.