Hosgeldiniz » then zoomed ahead of Massa. After 10 of 53 laps

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. Wholesale Air Jordan 3 Ireland . At Manchester United, Ferguson developed Beckham into one of the worlds most recognizable sportsmen, but the midfielder left United in 2003 for Real Madrid under a cloud after his relationship with the manager broke down. Cheap Air Jordan 3 Wholesale .com) - The fading Ottawa Senators have a chance to make up some ground in the playoff race on Tuesday night as they play host to the New York Rangers. http://www.cheapairjordan3ireland.com/. Catch the game on TSN starting at 7pm et/4pm pt. You can also listen to all the action live on TSN 1050 at 7pm et. The Knicks are two games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference race. Air Jordan 3 Ireland Online . Al Horford said all he had to do was make the catch near the basket and then shoot a soft jumper. Cheap Jordans Ireland . Im very excited about the playoffs, particularly in the Western Conference with amazing match-ups, as well as the wonderful local story in the Toronto Raptors. It should be a blast. Here are my predictions, but based upon my lousy prognostications during the NCAA Tournament, you might be better off going the other way on some of mine - particularly with the Raptors, who I hope and pray are able to win an incredibly difficult match-up. MONZA, Italy -- Sebastian Vettels rivals have all but conceded the Formula One title after the German recorded his sixth victory of the season with a resilient performance to win the Italian Grand Prix. While Vettels victory at the Belgian GP two weeks ago was clinical, Sunday he was forced to overcome a difficult start from the pole position and gearbox trouble to beat Ferraris Fernando Alonso and Red Bull teammate Mark Webber. "The heartbeat was a bit higher in the car and also the pit wall, because we didnt know what was going on," Vettel said about the gearbox problem. "I tried to pace myself a little bit more and control the gaps." Before the race, Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali gave Alonso two races -- the next is Singapore in two weeks time -- to close the gap before the team switches its focus to developing next years car. Alonso is 53 points behind Vettel with seven races to go and the Spaniard already sounds like hes given up. Lewis Hamilton is 81 points back in third with only 175 available. "We didnt close the gap in the championship, which is obviously the goal," Alonso said. "We dont have enough races and we dont have the speed now to win consecutive races." Nevertheless, Alonso drove well from fifth on the grid. "Its a fantastic feeling here in Monza. The fourth year I have driven for Ferrari, the fourth time on the podium," he said. "Every year its something amazing, something unique." Vettel locked his tires on the first turn as the Ferrari of Felipe Massa pressured him from behind, but after that the German consolidated his advantage to beat Alonso by 5.4 seconds and Webber by 6.3. "This is the best podium of the season, Im very proud," Vettel said. "We had problems with the gearboxes at the end, but I was OK because I had a good cushion." Monza is the home race for Ferrari fans and there were loud jeers when Vettel was on the podium. "You can hear the difference when you dont win here in a red suit but it means you have done well and beaten the red men (of Ferrari))," Vettel said.dddddddddddd "The more booing we get the better weve done today. I dont blame the people to be honest, its in their genes. They love Ferrari." It was Vettels third career win at Monza -- his first was with Toro Rosso in 2008 and then Red Bull in 2011 -- his sixth of the season and 32nd overall, moving him even with Alonsos win total. He was more emotional than usual, shaking his head vigorously in celebration and letting out his trademark high-pitched whoop as he celebrated his third win in the past four races, then pumping his fist several times as he walked up the podium steps. Massa finished fourth ahead of German drivers Nico Hulkenberg -- a seasons best for Sauber -- and Nico Rosberg, who was sixth on a poor day for Mercedes. There was light rainfall before the race, but the sunshine returned as Vettel started from pole for the 40th in his career and first since the Canadian GP in June. Roared on by thousands of flag-waving tifosi, Ferrari had a point to prove and Alonso brilliantly overtook Webber on the outside and then zoomed ahead of Massa. After 10 of 53 laps, Vettel led Alonso by about 5 seconds, but engineers told him that his front right tire had taken some damage on turn 1 and Alonso began to make up time. Vettel pitted on lap 24, switching from medium to hard tires, followed shortly by Webber and Massa, but Alonso stayed out until lap 28 as leading drivers chose a one-stop strategy. In his last European race before he retires from F1 at the end of the season, Webber got his first podium at Monza. "Good battle with Fernando," the Australian said. "Last time in Monza, so thank you very much." Briton Paul di Restas race lasted a few seconds after he sustained damage to the front left tire of his Force India car. He appeared to hit the back of Romain Grosjeans Lotus and stewards were investigating the incident. Hamilton started from 12th after his worst qualifying performance this campaign and finished ninth. "Thats it for the Championship now," said Hamilton, who won the F1 title in 2008. ' ' '