A 2-0 triumph for Uruguay in their Group H decider against Ghana stopped the Black Stars from exacting retribution for their World Cup quarterfinal loss in 2010, but this exciting success for La Celeste came at a high cost.
South Korea’s 2-1 win against Portugal in the comparable group-stage decider allowed them to jump both Uruguay and Ghana in the table, ensuring that they will advance to the Round of 16 and send both of these teams home.
Memories of Luis Suarez’s purposeful handball at the conclusion of extra time in their 2010 quarterfinal encounter dominated the build-up to the match.
Asamoah Gyan’s miss that day proved fatal for Ghana, but Andre Ayew, the only remaining player from that squad, couldn’t vindicate it 12 years on.
He fired a poor penalty attempt right into the palms of Sergio Rochet, squandering a golden opportunity to put the Black Stars ahead after only 20 minutes.
After Suarez’s low drive was parried into the path of Georgian De Arrascaeta, who headed in from close range for Uruguay’s first goal of the tournament, Uruguay punished Ghana’s inability to finish almost immediately.
The celebrations among those in blue had just gone down when the ball fell to De Arrascaeta again, and he finished with venom to increase La Celeste’s advantage.
Ghana pushed hard in the second half to get back into the game, led by the dangerous Mohammed Kudus. Substitute Osman Bukari also had many chances to score, but the outstanding Rochet and his well-drilled Uruguayan backline held them at bay.
Coach Diego Alonso substituted Suarez and Darwin Nunez in an attempt to end the game, but Uruguay’s strategy was quickly disrupted by what was happening between Portugal and South Korea.
If the Koreans had lost, Uruguay would have moved to the last 16, and if Ghana had drawn, they would have advanced at the cost of South Korea.
No one told Hwang Hee-chan, the Korean who swept in a 91st-minute winner to put his team ahead of both Ghana and Uruguay, sending La Celeste out on the tie-breaker of goals scored!
