As the saying goes, “When the going gets tough, the tough gets going”. That is exactly what transpired in the just concluded game between Russia and Portugal as the Portuguese captain, Cristiano Ronaldo made the difference between both teams with an early goal which he scored through a powerful header in the eight minute beating goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev from close range.

The goal proved to be the only goal of the match in a game that had Portugal with the edge over the hosts who could not find an answer to the style of play exhibited by a desperate Portuguese team needing to win at all cost after surrendering a 2-1 lead to a Mexico equaliser in added time in their first match.

Unsurprisingly, Ronaldo was the tormentor in chief for his team as he was a real headache for the Russian defence line. It took an Akinfeev fantastic save to deny him a second goal some 22 minutes after his first goal.

He missed another good opportunity 15 minutes into the second half as he squandered a chance created for him by Andre Gomes.

Portugal is now virtually in a safe territory as far as qualification for the next stage is concerned as they face New Zealand in their final game of the group stage.

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