BRASILIA, Brazil -- Cristiano Ronaldos first goal of the World Cup earned Portugal a 2-1 win over Ghana but couldnt prevent his team being eliminated from the tournament along with the Africans on Thursday. Portugal finished level on four points with second-place United States in Group G but with an inferior goal difference. Germany topped the group after beating the U.S. 1-0 in Recife. Ronaldo slammed home the winner at Estadio Nacional with his left foot in the 80th minute to break his drought in Brazil and give Portugal its first win. He barely celebrated, though, with the goal coming too late to help Portugal qualify at the expense of the Americans. "We created many opportunities but we could not finish them," Ronaldo said. "We knew we had to score three goals and were depending on the result of the Germany game and we couldnt do that. "We deserved more, but thats football. We are leaving with our heads held high." Ghana captain Asamaoh Gyans 57th-minute header cancelled out an own goal scored by teammate John Boye in the 31st. It was a bittersweet ending to the World Cup for Ronaldo, who has been nursing a left leg injury and seen the likes of Brazil star Neymar and Argentina captain Lionel Messi upstage him with four goals apiece. The world player of the year earned the man-of-the-match award after a display that could easily have yielded three or four goals. Ronaldo struck the bar in the first half and had two great chances in injury time, but glanced a close-range finish over the bar and then shot straight at Fatawu Dauda when one on one with the goalkeeper. It was too little, too late from Ronaldo, who was downbeat as he trudged off the pitch after the final whistle. The result brought to an end a typically eventful few weeks in Brazil for the Ghanaians, who were part of thrilling games against the United States and Germany before their campaign ended in turmoil on and off the pitch. Their players took to the field in the Brazilian capital amid a dispute with the countrys football federation over alleged unpaid World Cup bonuses. Adding to the chaos, two of the teams star players -- Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng -- were booted out of the squad hours before Thursdays kickoff for disciplinary reasons. "I dont think it had an impact on the game," said Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah, who confirmed that his players received their appearance-fee payments before kickoff as requested. "We had our chances but couldnt take them." It was perhaps no surprise that Ghana delivered its most subdued display of the tournament, ensuring the team finished bottom of the group and resulting in Ronaldo getting time and space to enjoy his most lively performance in Brazil. He could have had a hat trick by the time he finally found the net. An over-hit cross in the fifth minute flew over Dauda and slammed against the bar before the Real Madrid superstar squandered a gilt-edged chance, heading straight at the keeper from six yards (meters) out. After having two stinging shots saved, he was bailed out by Boye, who sliced Miguel Velosos cross into the top corner of his own net to give the Portuguese a halftime lead they just about deserved. Gyan could hardly miss with a header after Kwadwo Asamaohs delicious cross with the outside of his left foot, making it 1-1. With Germany having just taken the lead in Recife, Ghana was only a goal away from progressing at that stage. However, Ronaldo had the final say, making no mistake from eight yards (meters) out after Dauda had parried the ball high into the air. Replica Air Max . -- The way Ted Ligety carved into turns looked so easy. Cheap Air Max From China . And, just for good measure, lets say the lottery team finishes the game short-handed because two starters come down with the very same injury. https://www.airmaxchina.us/ . Louis Blues just continue to roll -- especially against the Nashville Predators. Clearance Air Max . The Durban-based Sharks withstood a furious second-half fightback to beat the Queensland Reds 35-20 for a fourth straight win which gave them a five-point lead atop the championship table. The Hamilton-based Chiefs scored two late tries to beat the Cape Town-based Stormers 36-20 for their third win, after the Stormers rallied from 24-6 down to 24-20 with six minutes remaining. Cheap Air Max For Sale . PETERSBURG, Fla.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Midfielder Eric Alexander scored his first goal of the season and the New York Red Bulls earned a 2-0 victory over the New England Revolution on Sunday. Peguy Luyindula scored his third goal of the season for the Red Bulls in the 76th minute, a right-footed shot from atop the penalty box. Alexander, who had taken just four shots on goal this season, headed in a cross in the 17th minute from the left wing by Lloyd Sam after New England goalie Bobby Shuttleworth was knocked to the turf in the scramble. Luyindulas goal was his first in 10 matches. The Red Bulls (4-5-6) snapped a four--match (0-3-1) winless streak in which they had allowed 10 goals.dddddddddddd. New York also snapped a 17-match (11-0-6) winless streak in New England against the Revolution. New York goalie Luis Robles earned his third shutout of the season, spoiling New Englands season-best crowd of 23,950 by making eight saves and foiling five corner kicks. The Revolutions Diego Fagundez launched a shot off the right wing off the far left goal post in the 44th minute. New England (7-5-2) suffered its second straight shutout loss, having its unbeaten streak of five matches (4-0-1) at home end as well. ' ' '