Friday, 2nd July 2010
Drama For Ghana
Uruguay vs Ghana
in Jo'burg Soccer City
The last African team in the 2010 World Cup Finals hoped to become
the first to reach the semi-finals.
The first twenty minutes belonged to Uruguay; Diego Forlan's set
pieces and the nervous Ghana defence. It wasn't until Richard Kingson tipped the ball over
the bar from Luis Suarez, in the 27th minute, that Ghana really woke up.
Then, from a corner in the 29th minute, Ghana kept the pressure on.
Kwadwo Asamoah dropped back a little, Kevin-Prince Boateng moved up alongside Asamoah Gyan
and Ghana started to look more promising.
With two minutes added on, Ghana pushed forward a final time before
the break.
There didn't really seem much urgency in their movement, as Asamoah
Gyan helped the ball along; into the path of Sulley Muntari. Fernando Muslera was seen
moving one way, so Muntari sent the ball the other.
Half-time: 0:1
Ten minutes into the second-half, Diego Forlan's direct free-kick
brought Uruguay back into the game. Richard Kingson didn't really give himself much of a
chance when he started to move; especially when Jabulani had an extra move itself.
Asamoah Gyan almost put Ghana back in front, but Muslera was down
quick to keep the ball out.
Twenty minutes from time, Uruguay probably put together of their best
moves; Kingson saving from Suarez.
Uruguay looked fresher towards the end of normal time; Ghana just
seemed to be hanging on.
Not only were Ghana the third African team to reach the
quarter-finals, they also became the third African team to take their quarter-final match
into extra-time.
Into Extra Time.
Uruguay probably should have had a penalty in the first period of
extra-time, but Pantsil was lucky to get away with sticking his foot out.
With both teams visibly tired, the Dutch players must be licking their
lips.
Stephen Appiah missed the chance to avoid the penalty shoot-out by
trying to control the ball instead of just throwing his head at it.
Then Gyan couldn't get the better of Andr�s Scotti; Kevin-Prince
Boateng headed wide and then drama of all dramas as Luis Suarez was sent off for handling
the ball on the line in the 120th minute and the normally assured Asamoah Gyan crashed the
penalty onto the crossbar.
Now to the real penalties.
Penalties:
Uruguay went first.
1:0 Diego Forlan - Calmly struck.
1:1 Asamoah Gyan - Courageously went first and scored.
2:1 Mauricio Victorino - Blasted into the roof of the net.
2:2 Stephen Appiah - Scored just above the keeper's gloves.
3:2 Andr�s Scotti - Hesitated but low and through the middle.
3:2 John Mensah - No run up. Easily saved.
3:2 Maxi Pereira - Shoots miles over.
3:2 Dominic Adiyiah - Saved.
4:2 Sebastian Abreu - Cool customer scored light and easy.
Final Score:
Uruguay 1 Ghana 1 After Extra Time (4:2 pens)
 Goalscorers:
0:1 Sulley Muntari (45 mins)
1:1 Diego Forlan (55 mins)
Man of The Match:
Kevin-Prince Boateng - Improved Ghana's attacking threat when he moved up alongside
Asamoah Gyan.
Teams
 Uruguay:
1 Fernando Muslera; 4 Jorge Fucile, 6 Mauricio Victorino, 2 Diego Lugano, 16 Maxi Pereira;
20 Alvaro Fernandez, 17 Egidio Arevalo, 15 Diego Perez, 7 Edinson Cavani; 9 Luis Suarez,
10 Diego Forlan.
 Ghana:
22 Richard Kingson; 2 Hans Sarpei, 5 John Mensah, 15 Isaac Vorsah, 4 John Pantsil; 11
Sulley Muntari, 23 Kevin-Prince Boateng, 6 Anthony Annan, 7 Samuel Inkoom; 21 Kwadwo
Asamoah, 3 Asamoah Gyan.
Referee:
Olegario Benquerenca (Portugal)
Substitutions:
38 Mins (Uruguay) - 19 Andr�s Scotti on for 2 Diego Lugano
46 Mins (Uruguay) - 14 Nicolas Lodeiro on for 20 Alvaro Fernandez
74 Mins (Ghana) - 10 Stephen Appiah on for 7 Samuel Inkoom
76 Mins (Uruguay) - 13 Sebastian Abreu on for 7 Edinson Cavani
88 Mins (Ghana) - 18 Dominic Adiyiah on for 11 Sulley Muntari
 6 Yellow
Cards:
20 Mins - Jorge Fucile (Uruguay) - misses next game.
48 Mins - Egidio Arevalo (Uruguay)
54 Mins - John Pantsil (Ghana)
59 Mins - Diego Perez (Uruguay)
77 Mins - Hans Sarpei (Ghana)
93 Mins - John Mensah (Ghana)
 1 Red Card:
120 Mins - Luis Suarez (Uruguay)
Previous Encounters:
Ghana and Uruguay have only met at Under 20 level, and they were close games.
To the Semi-final in Cape Town.
2010 World Cup Finals - Knockout Stage.
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