After a heart-stopping last minute of extra-time play which saw Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan hit the crossbar on a final-second penalty shot, the Uruguay-Ghana World Cup quarterfinal match was settled with penalty kicks, and Uruguay held their nerves better than Ghana. Uruguay striker Luis Suarez prevented a sure goal with his hands and was shown a straight red card. Gyan was unable to make Uruguay pay and Ghana then lost in penalties 4-2 after a 1-1 tie after 120 minutes of play.
Uruguay came into the match looking to regain lost glory. After winning the World Cup in 1930 and 1950, the side hadn’t made it past the quarterfinals since 1970. After topping Group A and defeating South Korea to reach the semifinals, Uruguay had reason to hope this might be the year.
Ghana had fared somewhat worse in group play, scoring only two goals while winning, losing, and drawing its group matches. The side advances on goal differential, to face—and eliminate—USA in extra time.
But Ghana was full of hope because they were the last African team still in the tournament. Ghana played for the pride of the continent, with the full strength of the crowd behind it.
Hope for Ghana
Uruguay came into the match looking to regain lost glory. After winning the World Cup in 1930 and 1950, the side hadn’t made it past the quarterfinals since 1970. After topping Group A and defeating South Korea to reach the semifinals, Uruguay had reason to hope this might be the year.
Ghana had fared somewhat worse in group play, scoring only two goals while winning, losing, and drawing its group matches. The side advances on goal differential, to face—and eliminate—USA in extra time.
But Ghana was full of hope because they were the last African team still in the tournament. Ghana played for the pride of the continent, with the full strength of the crowd behind it.
Hope for Ghana
Uruguay came out strong, with strikers Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez coming close with several good chances, but Ghanaian keeper Richard Kingson made several excellent saves.
Ghana came back in the second part of the first half, with strikers Kevin Prince Boateng and Asamoah Gyan putting pressure on the Uruguay net. The Ghanaian defenders took control of midfield and gave the attackers good balls.
Uruguay got lucky time after time, as shots went wide or keeper Muslera got his hands on the ball. But two minutes into stoppage time Uruguay’s luck ran out.
Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari, instead of sending a ball through, took a 45-yard shot which bent and bounced and completely fooled Muslera, who moved to his right as the ball went by on the left. Seconds later the half ended with Ghana ahead 1–0.
Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari, instead of sending a ball through, took a 45-yard shot which bent and bounced and completely fooled Muslera, who moved to his right as the ball went by on the left. Seconds later the half ended with Ghana ahead 1–0.
Uruguay Strikes Back
Ghana came out somewhat sloppily and less energized in the second half, while Uruguay started getting good chances.
At 54 minutes, Ghana defender John Pantsil committed a foul giving Uruguay a free kick from 21 yards out. Diego Forlan stepped up and blasted the ball, bending it left to right, just past the fingers of Kingson, tying the game.
Uruguay continued to get chances, but couldn’t convert, while Ghana couldn’t seem to string together passes; Uruguay blunted the Ghanaian attack just past midfield. Neither side could score, sending the game into extra time.
At 54 minutes, Ghana defender John Pantsil committed a foul giving Uruguay a free kick from 21 yards out. Diego Forlan stepped up and blasted the ball, bending it left to right, just past the fingers of Kingson, tying the game.
Uruguay continued to get chances, but couldn’t convert, while Ghana couldn’t seem to string together passes; Uruguay blunted the Ghanaian attack just past midfield. Neither side could score, sending the game into extra time.
Overtime Drama
The first overtime period was more of the same; Kingson kept Uruguay off the board, while Ghana couldn’t put together a coordinated attack.
Ghana fought back in the final minutes of the final period.
Ghana fought back in the final minutes of the final period.
First Stephen Appiah sent a ball into Gyan, who bulled his way past two defenders before losing the ball which bounced towards the net until Uruguay midfielder Alvaro Pereira kicked it away.
A few minutes later Boateng barely missed a header on a throw-in after a corner kick.
Finally, with half a minute left to play, Ghana got its finest chance at victory.
A few minutes later Boateng barely missed a header on a throw-in after a corner kick.
Finally, with half a minute left to play, Ghana got its finest chance at victory.
Kevin Prince Boateng headed a ball in to keep Fernando Muslera, who couldn’t control the rebound. Stephen Appaih knocked it back towards the net, where it was blocked.
Dominic Adiyiah then knocked it back in. Suarez, unable to keep the ball any other way, swatted it away with his hands.
Suarez got an immediate red card, and Ghana got a penalty shot. Asamoah Gyan stepped up to take the shot, and he drilled it past Muslera—and right into the crossbar. Play stopped, and the game went to a penalty-kick shoot out.
The first five kicks went in with Uruguay scoring three and Ghana two.
John Mensah then stepped up, and set up only a few feet from the ball. His shoulders were slumped as if he thought he was beaten already. After a two-step run, he fired a weak shot which Muslera stopped easily.
Maximiliano Pereira stepped up for Uruguay, and after a great game where he made crucial plays on offense and defense, he missed high by yards. Ghana was back in it.
But not for long: Dominic Adiyiah’s shot was also stopped. Then, Sebastian Abreu made his run, paused, and sent a little dink shot over the sprawling keeper Kingson, sending Uruguay ahead and ending the Africa’s chance to have one of their teams win the World Cup.
Uruguay, finally reaching the semifinals for the first time in 40 years, will face Netherlands on Tuesday.
Germany plays Argentina, and Paraguay meets Spain on Saturday to determine the other semifinalists.
Dominic Adiyiah then knocked it back in. Suarez, unable to keep the ball any other way, swatted it away with his hands.
Suarez got an immediate red card, and Ghana got a penalty shot. Asamoah Gyan stepped up to take the shot, and he drilled it past Muslera—and right into the crossbar. Play stopped, and the game went to a penalty-kick shoot out.
The first five kicks went in with Uruguay scoring three and Ghana two.
John Mensah then stepped up, and set up only a few feet from the ball. His shoulders were slumped as if he thought he was beaten already. After a two-step run, he fired a weak shot which Muslera stopped easily.
Maximiliano Pereira stepped up for Uruguay, and after a great game where he made crucial plays on offense and defense, he missed high by yards. Ghana was back in it.
But not for long: Dominic Adiyiah’s shot was also stopped. Then, Sebastian Abreu made his run, paused, and sent a little dink shot over the sprawling keeper Kingson, sending Uruguay ahead and ending the Africa’s chance to have one of their teams win the World Cup.
Uruguay, finally reaching the semifinals for the first time in 40 years, will face Netherlands on Tuesday.
Germany plays Argentina, and Paraguay meets Spain on Saturday to determine the other semifinalists.
