Ghana 1 Uruguay 1

Friday, 02/07/2010

Uruguay won 4-2 on penalties

Report: Jon Reeves

One of the most entertaining games of the World Cup so far went the distance as the remaining African hope, Ghana were knocked out of the tournament on penalties by Uruguay in Johannesburg.   

The South Americans started a pulsating opening period the better after settling into their passing game and finding the dangerous strike duo of Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez with ease. Forlan has impressed during the tournament with his set-piece delivery and his early crosses and corners certainly tested a nervy looking Ghanaian backline.

Uruguay’s best moment came when Suarez out-muscled his marker and smashed a right-footed volley, stinging the fingers of Ghana stopper Richard Kingson who acrobatically tipped the ball over the bar.

That save and an inspired tactical change seemed to spark Ghana into life as Portsmouth midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng was moved into a more advanced role and began linking up play, taking on players and bringing a new found energy to the African’s attack.

Ghana dominated the remainder of the half and went close on several occasions with defender Isaac Vorsah and Inter Milan star Sulley Muntari going close with headers. The tenacious Asamoah Gyan again looked dangerous up front and was unlucky to see his measured side-footed effort skim wide of the post following a clever pass from Boateng.

It looked as though Ghana’s period of domination wouldn’t bear fruit as half-time approached but with seconds remaining, Muntari picked up the ball near to half-way line and after being afforded time to turn and set himself, the midfielder smashed a swerving low shot into the bottom corner of the net, catching Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera out with an early strike.

Into the second half the game began to simmer over following a few meaty challenges when on 54 minutes Diego Forlan smashed his side back level with a top class free-kick from the edge of the box. The ball flew over Richard Kingson and into the net beating the Wigan keeper all ends up as the Athletico Madrid hot shot continued his impressive World Cup form.

Forlan was causing all sorts of problems with his movement and vision and after instant control on his left boot he whipped in a great cross, which a stretching Suarez could only drill into the side-netting with Kingson in no man’s land.

The highly-rated Ajax striker went close again a few minutes later after ghosting into the box and toe-poking an effort at goal, but it was too close to Kingson who pushed the ball away to safety.

Maximiliano Pereira wasted an extremely presentable opportunity inside the last ten minutes as Uruguay looked dangerous on the counter attack, but with team-mates better placed the right-back snatched at a shot, launching it over the bar.

In the first half of extra-time both Uruguay strikers continued to look dangerous with Forlan orchestrating play from a deeper role.

Asamoah Gyan almost bundled his way through riding a couple of heavy challenges but his momentum caused him to lose control of the ball.

Into the second half of extra-time and the end to end of nature of the contest continued even though the pace began to slow.  Forlan lashed a left-footed effort wide of the post for the South Americans and Gyan almost bundled his way through again, but Uruguay defended well in numbers.

As the game appeared to be heading to penalties Ghana continued to press and following a goal mouth scramble the ball was cleared off the line twice; once legitimately and once illegally as Suarez slapped the ball away with his hands earning a straight red card.

Asamoah Gyan stepped up with the chance to put his country into the semi-finals, but despite scoring two from two so far in the tournament, the striker failed from 12 yards thumping the ball off the top of the crossbar. Seconds later the final whistle blew meaning the game would be decided by penalties. Uruguay had got away with it and Ghana appeared to be feeling the pressure as the lottery from 12 yards began.

Forlan confidently guided his home for Uruguay before Gyan stepped up just minutes after his first penalty miss and admirably drilled it into the top corner of the goal for Ghana.

Defenders Victorino and Scotti dispatched their kicks for Uruguay as did Stephen Appiah for Ghana. Then Sunderland loanee John Mensah became the first to miss with an awful side-footed effort which was comfortably fielded by Muslera.

Maxi Pereira was the next to bottle it as the Uruguayan ballooned his penalty way over the bar. Young striker Dominic Adiyiah then stepped up for the Africans but his tame effort was easily saved by Muslera.

Sebastian Abreu then stepped up with the chance to win the game. The experienced striker nonchalantly clipped the ball over Kingson and into the net to send his county into a semi-final with Holland. The defeat was extremely harsh on the Ghanaians who offered much to the contest and will feel cheated following Suarez’s goal-line handball.

Goals:

Muntari (47)

Forlan (55)

Penalty Shootout:

Forlan (URU) Scored.

Gyan (GHA) Scored.

Victorino (URU) Scored.

Appiah (GHA) Scored.

Scotti (URU) Scored.

Mensah (GHA) Missed.

Pereira (URU) Missed.

Adiyiah (GHA) Missed.

Abreu (URU) Scored.

Shoot Man of the Match: Diego Forlan

For reports of previous matches at the tournament go to the International section.

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