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Ronaldo earns Portugal 2-1 win vs Ghana, both out

By WTOP Staff

STEVE DOUGLAS
AP Sports Writer

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo finally made his mark at the World Cup — but it came too late to spare Portugal an early exit from Brazil.

The world player of the year broke his scoring drought at the tournament with an 80th-minute winner in Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Ghana on Thursday.

That result, however, left the Portuguese level on four points with United States in Group G but with an inferior goal difference to the second-place Americans, who lost 1-0 to Germany in Recife. Ghana also was eliminated, finishing bottom of the group.

“We knew we had to score three goals and were depending on the result of the Germany game and we couldn’t do that,” Ronaldo said after his most lively performance of the tournament.

“We deserved more, but that’s football. We are leaving with our heads held high.”

Ronaldo barely celebrated after slamming home his goal with his left foot, giving Portugal its first win after a 4-0 loss to Germany and 2-2 draw with the U.S.

By that time, the Portuguese still needed a three-goal swing to move above the Americans and even though Ronaldo was presented with two more great chances in injury time at Estadio Nacional, his team was always going to fall short.

“We created many opportunities but we could not finish them,” said Ronaldo, who was voted man of the match in a bittersweet ending to the World Cup.

Ghana captain Asamaoh Gyan’s 57th-minute header canceled out an own goal scored by teammate John Boye in the 31st, and at that stage it was the African side that was closer to qualifying.

A 2-1 victory would have put Ghanaians through but Majeed Waris’ headed chance that he planted wide of the post in the 60th was the only genuine opening they created before Ronaldo’s sucker-punch.

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 country’s football federation over alleged unpaid World Cup bonuses. Adding to the chaos, two of the team’s star players — Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng — were booted out of the squad hours before Thursday’s kickoff for disciplinary reasons.

“I don’t 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 couldn’t take them.”

It was perhaps no surprise that Ghana delivered its most subdued display of the tournament, ensuring Ronaldo was given plenty of time and space to wreak havoc.

If his finishing had been anywhere close to the standard he delivers week in, week out for Real Madrid, Portugal may even have extended its stay in Brazil — at least for a few more days.

“That’s not the only, single or main reason (Portugal is out),” Portugal coach Paulo Bento said. “We should look at it in a more comprehensive way, not just at individuals.”

Ronaldo 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 Ronaldo 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 Veloso’s 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 Asamaoh’s delicious cross with the outside of his left foot, making it 1-1. With Germany having just taken the lead in Recife, the Ghanaian contingent inside the stadium sensed an opportunity.

However, Ronaldo had the final say, making no mistake from eight yards (meters) out after Dauda had parried the ball high into the air.

___

Portugal: Beto (Eduardo, 89); Joao Pereira (Silvestre Varela, 62), Pepe, Bruno Alves, Miguel Veloso; Ruben Amorim, Joao Moutinho, William Carvalho; Nani, Cristiano Ronaldo, Eder (Vieirinha, 69).

Ghana: Fatau Dauda; Harrison Afful, Jonathan Mensah, John Boye, Rabiu Mohammed (Acquah Afriyie, 76); Kwadwo Asamoah, Christian Atsu, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Andre Ayew (Mubarak Wakaso, 81); Majeed Waris (Jordan Ayew, 71), Asamoah Gyan.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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