Portugal registered a 3-2 win over Ghana in their 2022 FIFA World Cup opener on Thursday evening, with Cristiano Ronaldo on target.
Ronaldo, who parted ways with Manchester United, captained Portugal with Bruno Fernandes in as well, while Inaki Williams made his World Cup debut for the Black Stars.
It was a pacey start from the Portuguese and West Africans, as Ronaldo threatened the lead from a towering header after charging on the end of a cross though steered wide.
Otto Addo's men didn't enjoy a lot of the ball in the opening exchanges and allowed the 2016 European champions a lot of forward movement and third-man runs.
Ghana managed to stage a rare foray ten minutes in the resumption when Kudus ran towards the area after working an angle and dragged wide of the bottom-corner.
The Ghanaians, though, conceded a penalty around 65 minutes as Ronaldo succumbed to a foul and tucked away the spot-kick to become the first male player to score at five successive World Cup finals.
Ghana levelled 12 minutes later when captain Andre Ayew arrived unchallenged in the six-yard area and applied a close-range finish from Kudus' ball.
It was the final contribution for Kudus as he was withdrawn for Osman Bukari while Jordan Ayew was introduced for the Ayew, as Rafael Leao replaced Ruben Neves for Portugal.
The Black Stars trailed again five minutes apart after Joao Felix dropped far wide of the area and slotted in the bottom-corner following a pass by Fernandes.
Portugal secured a third goal with ten minutes to go when Leao beat the offside trap and guided home a well-weighted pass from Fernandes.
Addo's men set-up a nervous finish after Bukari received a yard of space in the area and nodded in a delivery from the left a minute before time.
There was no comeback from Ghana despite the efforts in the closing seconds, as Portugal grabbed maximum points in their Group H opener.
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