Day 13: Ronaldo roars, Colombia through, Croatia alive, England held
Cristiano Ronaldo delivered a stunning response to his critics, scoring twice as Portugal crushed Uzbekistan 5-0 to reignite their World Cup campaign. The 41-year-old became the first player in history to score at six different World Cups, silencing doubts after a disappointing opening draw against DR Congo.
Ronaldo struck in the sixth minute and added another before halftime, helping Portugal race into a commanding lead. Goals from Nuno Mendes and Rafael Leao completed an emphatic victory that puts Portugal firmly on course for the knockout stage. After the match, Ronaldo admitted it had been a difficult week but insisted he was far from finished.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. While Portugal celebrated, England endured a frustrating evening in Group L, drawing 0-0 with Ghana. After their impressive 4-2 win over Croatia in the opener, England struggled to break down a disciplined Ghanaian defense and created few clear chances. Harry Kane summed up England’s disappointing display when he blazed over from close range late in the game.
The draw leaves England and Ghana level on four points, with qualification still in their own hands heading into the final round of group matches.
Croatia revived their hopes with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto. Substitute Ante Budimir scored the decisive goal early in the second half, earning Croatia their first points of the tournament and eliminating Panama. The night was also memorable for Luka Modric, who made his 200th international appearance. The Croatian captain produced another influential performance and received an emotional celebration from teammates after the final whistle.
In Group K, Colombia became one of the first teams to secure a place in the last 32 after defeating DR Congo 1-0 in Guadalajara. Daniel Munoz scored the winner in the 76th minute after Colombia had dominated much of the contest but were repeatedly denied by goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.
The victory moved Colombia to six points and guaranteed qualification, setting up a blockbuster group finale against Portugal. DR Congo remain alive mathematically and will face Uzbekistan in a crucial final match.
Day 13 Results
Portugal 5-0 Uzbekistan
England 0-0 Ghana
Croatia 1-0 Panama
Colombia 1-0 DR Congo
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