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. Carli Lloyd Jersey . Then Klay Thompson put his foot on the gas. Thompson scored 19 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and Harrison Barnes scored 14 points in his season debut to help the Golden State Warriors to a 106-93 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. Abby Smith Jersey . Patty Mills scored 15 points, Tim Duncan had 10 points and 11 rebounds in limited minutes, and San Antonio trailed for only 11 seconds late in the first quarter of a 103-90 victory over Portland on Wednesday night. http://www.socceruswntshop.com/christen-press-usa-jersey/ . You can see all the action on TSN2 beginning at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. Chicago won two of three games during its stay at the United Center. The club began the homestand with a 5-1 win over Pittsburgh on March 1 and fell to Colorado on Tuesday before posting another blowout win in Thursdays tilt against Columbus. Crystal Dunn Jersey . -- Rookie Victor Oladipo came off the bench to score 20 points and Glen Davis had 18, leading the Orlando Magic to a 112-98 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night. Alyssa Naeher Jersey .Y. - Brooklyn Nets centre Brook Lopez has a strained lower back and will miss at least a week.Kevin Pietersen branded Chis Gayle a freak show and voiced his concerns over Englands bowling after West Indies beat Eoin Morgans men by six wickets at the World T20. Gayle smashed 100 not out from 48 balls to become the first man to crack two World T20 tons, following his 117 against South Africa in the inaugural tournament in 2007.But does the Jamaicans form make West Indies genuine contenders for the 2016 trophy and what of England? KP, who watched the game in the Sky Sports studio, talks the universe boss, Englands issues and more… Sky Sports Nasser Hussain pays tribute to Chris Gayle after he smashed a century off just 47 balls. Chris Gayle and West Indies title chancesKP SAYS: He is a superstar, a freak show and was proud to get himself over the line and not leave it to anyone else. Thats what you want to do as a batter - you dont feel that satisfaction if you fall 10 runs short. He understood that he was just standing there and that it was the bowler was under pressure and thinking Where do I bowl to this bloke? Its a simple game-plan but it is so effective. Gayle cant do that in every game but you only need one or two players in form to score the bulk of your runs and then have other guys chipping in to go a long way in a tournament. Englands Joe Root told Rob Key that there were plenty of positives to take away from their six wicket defeat to West Indies.dddddddddddd Englands bowlingKP SAYS: The only thing England should be concerned about is their bowling. Why did Adil Rashid only bowl two overs, for example, and who is Englands other death bowler, besides Chris Jordan, who is brilliant at it. They havent played cricket in India, though, and only Eoin Morgan has played in the IPL. Thats a huge thing and it showed when Joe Root said 180 was a par score. It wasnt. Adil Rashid is a much-improved bowler, says KP Adil RashidKP SAYS: He now has the ability to bowl his googly and leg-spinner a little bit quicker. He was previously a bit one-paced with his leg-spinner and his googly wasnt as quick but now he varies his speeds and bowls both balls at the same pace, so you have less time to pick them as a batsman. Jason RoyKP SAYS: Jasons strength is also his weakness. He has the ability to crunch any ball anywhere from third man to fine leg but he tries to do it a bit too early, so I think he needs to play 10 balls and get himself in and then express himself. Running down the wicket and slogging is not his game, and for consistency at the top of the order and for England to keep selecting you, you have to get yourself in. Kevin Pietersen had some advice for Jason Roy ahead of Englands World T20 opener against West Indies. Also See: Gayle ton downs England WATCH: Gayle reacts to century WATCH: Root on Englands defeat Live cricket on Sky ' ' '