Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Thursday 21 June 2018

Ronaldo scores in

Portugal's 1-0 win,

Morocco eliminated

By GRAHAM DUNBAR Friday, including a spec-
AP Sports Writer tacular free kick late in the
MOSCOW (AP) — Off the game, Ronaldo scored
top of his head, Cristiano against Morocco with his
Ronaldo scored yet an- first meaningful touch of
other goal, set a European the match.
record and eliminated Mo- He was too strong for
rocco from the World Cup. marker Manuel Da Costa
The Portugal forward and found space in the
headed in a fourth-min- goalmouth to meet Joao
ute cross from the right to Moutinho's cross following
give Portugal a 1-0 victory a short corner.
on Wednesday. It was his Ronaldo had two more free
85th goal for his country, kick chances, each from
the most for any European less than 20 yards (meters).
player in almost 150 years But both were blocked by
of international soccer. a solid wall of defenders as Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo leaps up for a header during the group B match between Portugal and
"It was beautiful for me," the Portuguese ground out Morocco at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday,
Ronaldo said after be- a result from an often poor June 20, 2018.
ing voted the man of the display, much like it did two
match for the second years ago on its run to the are the ones who make all ahead of the late match After a hat trick against
straight game. European Championship the difference," Morocco between Iran and Spain. Spain in the Sochi stadium
Ronaldo celebrated his title. coach Herve Renard said. The Portuguese will play that staged the opening
goal by pointing at his There were 42 fouls in the Benatia, a rugged defend- Iran in their final match on and closing ceremonies for
chest during a trademark match, and only two Por- er who plays for Juventus, Monday in Saransk. the 2014 Games, he scored
run and soaring leap to- tuguese shots on target. led the effort to stop Ron- KEYS TO SUCCESS the winning goal against
ward the corner flag at the Most of the best play came aldo. His hard tackles from Ronaldo was a clinical fin- Morocco at the main ven-
Luzhniki Stadium. from Morocco, but the behind, however, earned isher and also one of Por- ue for the 1980 Moscow
The goal moved the North Africans now have him a yellow card. tugal's best defenders. Olympics.
33-year-old Ronaldo no chance of advancing There was a separate clash His headed clearances CONCUSSION PROTOCOL
ahead of Ferenc Puskas, from the group stage after in the penalty area be- helped out a back line that Amrabat started the match
another Real Madrid great a second straight 1-0 loss. tween Morocco winger seems vulnerable to cor- wearing protective head-
who scored his last goal for Morocco had enough scor- Noureddine Amrabat and ners and free kicks despite gear only five days after
Hungary in 1956. He is alone ing chances, nearly all from Portugal left back Raphael the height of veteran cen- sustaining a head injury in
in second place worldwide set pieces, and three came Guerreiro. Guerreiro raised ter backs Pepe and Jose the match against Iran.
behind Ali Daei's 109 goals in a five-minute spell early his shirt to show the referee Fonte. He discarded the cush-
for Iran. in the second half. Younes a set of scratches across Morocco, playing in its ioned protector early in
"He has a great coach," Belhanda was twice de- the right side of his stom- first World Cup in 20 years, Wednesday's match, and
Portugal coach Fernando nied by goalkeeper Rui ach, and Renard was lec- linked well through the mid- played strongly for the rest
Santos said through a trans- Patricio's diving saves, and tured by American referee field but relied on set-piec- of the game.
lator, laughing when asked defender Mehdi Benatia Mark Geiger for demand- es for its clearest chances The World Cup does not
about Ronaldo. "He's like a scooped a shot over the ing a video review of the — a growing theme at this have formal concussion
port wine. He knows how bar. incident. year's tournament. protocol, and his return
to refine his capacity and In stoppage time, Bena- GROUP DYNAMICS Its clearest shooting chanc- seemed to contradict a
age at his best." tia lifted another shot too Portugal looks set to ad- es fell to a defender, Bena- previous Morocco team
Ronaldo's four goals top high with an even clearer vance to the round of 16 tia, who could not keep statement that he would
the individual scoring chart chance. while Morocco will certain- them on target. rest for a full week.
at this year's World Cup. "Those who know how to ly be going home. OLYMPIC HEIGHTS "His spirit is amazing," Re-
Buoyed by his hat trick in a be in the penalty box and Portugal now has four Ronaldo seems to like nard said, "and I am lucky
3-3 draw against Spain on know how to make plays points and leads Group B Olympic stadiums. to have a player like this."q