Uruguay book their spot in the semi-finals with penalty win over Ghana

A competitive and ultimately controversial match is settled on penalties to put Uruguay into the World Cup semi-finals. Asamoah Gyan missed a penalty in the final minute of extra time after Luis Suarez was sent off for deliberate handball.
Asamoah Gyan missed a spot kick for Ghana in the last minute of extra-time to hand Uruguay a reprieve via a penalty shootout they grasped with both hands. Sebastian Abreu scored the winner to give the South Americans a 4-2 win, after an open match finished 1-1.

Sulley Muntari had given Ghana a deserved lead in first half stoppage time with a strike from 35 yards that wrong footed goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. But Diego Forlan replied with a thumping free-kick 10 minutes into the second period, ensuring the game went the extra 30 minutes.

But Gyan had the opportunity to make Ghana the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final when he had the chance from 12 yards, following Luis Suarez’s handball on the line from John Mensah’s goalbound header.

The Rennes striker had successfully converted from the spot twice earlier the tournament. But he thumped his effort against Muslera’s bar, to the disbelief of Gyan and his team-mates but to the elation of Suarez, who couldn’t believe his luck as he watched on from the tunnel after being sent off for his illegal clearance.

Uruguay started the brighter of the two teams, as they went in search of their first appearance in the last four in 40 years. Forlan and Suarez tested Ghana keeper Richard Kingson early on but it was a deflection off one of his own team-mates which nearly gave the Celeste the first goal.

Forlan’s corner from the left was flicked on at the near post by Edinson Cavani into the path of Mensah, the ball ricocheting off his chest towards his own goal. Kingson had to be alert, punching away his team-mates touch with a sharp reflex save.

After that scare, Ghana started to come to life in the match and grew in confidence, edging ever closer to finding the net with a number of close-calls. Gyan twice saw two efforts shave the post but their endeavours did not go unrewarded.

Picking up the ball a good 35 yards from goal, Muntari – recalled to the team in place of the suspended Andre Ayew – let fly with his left boot. Gyan ducked out of the way of the effort, wrong footing Muslera and finding the bottom right corner of the net.

Uruguay had no opportunity to reply before the interval but came out for the second half intent on blowing away their opponents. Things looked ominous for Ghana, as Fucile and Forlan again went close, only for Kingson to deny them again.

But when the Atletico Madrid striker was presented with a chance from a free-kick on the edge of the area, Kingson had no answer. Lifting the ball over the wall, Forlan’s effort eluded the keeper and found the top right corner of the net.

Ghana were undeterred and surged forward as the game continued to open up, with tiredness taking its toll. Both keepers were kept in action as the second half petered out, before extra-time beckoned.



Both teams toiled on without much in the way of action, except for a possible penalty when Pantsil brought down Sebastian Eguren. But the game exploded in the final minute as Ghana so nearly sealed their passage into the final four.

Suarez used his fist to knock Mensah’s header off the line, earning him a red card and giving Gyan the chance to win it in the dying seconds. But the striker smashed his effort against the crossbar and behind, giving Uruguay the chance to steal it in the shootout.

Mensah and Dominic Adiyiah were the guilty parties in missing their penalties, Muslera saving twice and sparing the blushes of his team-mate Maxi Pereira, who put his shot over the top.