‘Cheekiest of things' – Watch as Ghana denied cunning equaliser as striker Inaki Williams hides behind Portugal keeper
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Published 24/11/2022 at 18:41 GMT
Ghana striker Inaki Williams almost "wrote his name into World Cup folkore", according to Joe Cole, after coming very close to scoring a sensational and cunning late equaliser against Portugal. Williams hid behind Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa in the dying minutes of his side's 3-2 defeat, before pouncing when the ball was rolled out to try and score a tap-in, only to slip at the vital moment.
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Ghana were one badly-timed slip away from scoring an extraordinary stoppage-time equaliser in their five-goal World Cup thriller with Portugal, thanks to some cunning play from Inaki Williams.
With the Black Stars trailing 3-2 in the dying moments of the game, Williams waited behind Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa as the goalkeeper held the ball in his arms inside the penalty area.
Costa, unaware that the Ghana striker was lurking behind him, rolled the ball out to take a kick and Williams pounced, sprinting up to regain possession.
But at the crucial moment as Williams turned to shoot, he slipped, giving the Portuguese defence just enough time to scramble the ball clear and hang on for the win.
The goal would’ve capped a sensational late comeback from the Africans, who looked down and out with 10 minutes to go.
Andre Ayew equalised after Cristiano Ronaldo scored the opener from the penalty spot, becoming the first male player to score in five World Cups.
But strikes from Joao Felix and Rafael Leao in the space of two minutes made a Portuguese victory look assured, until Osman Bukari’s 89th-minute header gave Ghana a lifeline.
Wiliams' piece of trickery almost paid off, but the Stadium 974 turf betrayed him at the worst moment possible.
“He would’ve written himself into World Cup folklore. It’s the cheekiest of things to do, the goalkeeper just doesn’t see him," said ITV pundit Joe Cole.
“To slip at the vital moment….I would be interested to see what Diogo Costa’s team-mates would be saying to him in the dressing room.”
Next up for Portugal is a clash with Uruguay on Monday, while Ghana face South Korea next.
In the other game in Group H, Uruguay and South Korea played out a 0-0 draw.
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