Portugal were the superior side in virtually every metric, but Ghana's resilience and directness on the counter — epitomised by Iñaki Williams's clinical equaliser — made this a genuine contest for an hour. The pivotal tactical battle was in central midfield: Vitinha and João Neves formed a high-energy press-and-pass double pivot that denied Ghana any foothold in the game's engine room. Without Partey to anchor and distribute, the Black Stars were forced into long balls that Rúben Dias and Inácio dealt with comfortably. Portugal's left flank was their primary weapon — Nuno Mendes overlapping relentlessly and Leão cutting inside created a 2v1 overload that Ghana's right side could not contain. Martínez's decision to bring on Bruno Fernandes for the tired Neves added a creative spark that directly produced the third goal. Ghana will rue their inability to capitalise on the brief period of parity after the equaliser; a second goal then could have changed the tie entirely. As it stands, Portugal advance as convincing winners and look like genuine contenders in the knockout bracket.

• Ronaldo's penalty was his 14th World Cup goal across six tournaments — no player in history has scored in more World Cup knockout rounds.
• Rafael Leão created 4 chances and completed 6/7 dribbles — the most of any player on the pitch.
• Ghana's xG of 0.94 was almost entirely generated from Iñaki Williams's equaliser and two Sulemana crosses — their attack was otherwise stifled.
• Portugal's 63% possession and 87% pass accuracy underline their technical dominance; Ghana's 68% pass accuracy reflects the pressure they were under.
• The absence of Thomas Partey was acutely felt — Ghana's midfield was overrun for long stretches, with Owusu and Sibo unable to match Vitinha and João Neves.
• Gonçalo Ramos has now scored in each of his two World Cup appearances as a substitute, continuing his remarkable impact off the bench.