Alexi Lalas has revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo immediately texted Piers Morgan from the locker room after Portugal’s 2-0 over Uruguay to claim that he did touch Bruno Fernandes’ cross to open the scoring.
- Neymar hails Man Utd star as ‘best in the world’ after World Cup display
- Ghana coach takes selfie with crying Son Heung-min after South Korea’s defeat
- Lionel Messi ‘threatened’ by boxer Canelo Alvarez after Argentina beat Mexico
‘The breaking news is the Cristiano Ronaldo did not score despite his claims that it did touch him,’ the ex-USMNT skipper said on Fox Soccer.
‘I was just with Piers Morgan and he said that Cristiano texted him from the locker room saying that he believes that it touched his head. So, uhm, who knows.’
The 37-year-old wheeled away in celebration, acting as if he had scored once again at a World Cup, in the 54th minute of the game. Not this time, however.
A grinning Ronaldo threw his arms in the air, claiming he got the last touch, and was embracing Fernandes, who plays in midfield, as multiple replays were being shown on the big screens in the Stadium.
Alas for Ronaldo, the goal was awarded to Fernandes, who added a second from the penalty spot in stoppage time after a handball by Jose Gimenez as he slid in to challenge the Manchester United star.
‘I don’t really think it matters who scored,’ Fernandes said about the first goal. ‘The feeling at the time was that he (Ronaldo) touched the ball — I was crossing it to him — but what’s important was we moved into the next round and beat a very big opponent.’
Fernandes was denied a hat trick with the last kick of the game, his shot from outside the area hitting the post and going wide.
Portugal became the third team to reach the last 16 after France and Brazil. The team also avenged its loss to Uruguay in the last 16 at the 2018 competition on Monday.
Uruguay has one point from two games and needs to beat Ghana on Friday to stand a chance of going through. They have yet to score a goal at this tournament, with coach Diego Alonso even putting Luis Suarez on the bench in search of the right combination in attack.
Portugal has no such worries. They have scored five goals in two matches and Fernandes has had a hand in four of them as he dictates play in his role as No. 10.
Ronaldo was unable to add to the goal he scored against Ghana, which took his World Cup tally to eight goals from five tournaments and his men’s record of international goals to 118.
For now, though, the Portugal skipper is assured of at least two more games in what is likely his final World Cup and will play in the knockout stage for the fourth time in his career.
