Uruguay ended Ghana’s dream of being the first African team in the World Cup semi-finals when they won a penalty shootout 4-2 after their quarter-final finished 1-1 at the end of extra time last night
Uruguay substitute Sebastian Abreu got the decisive penalty with a cheeky chip over goalkeeper Richard Kingson to set up a semi-final with Netherlands, who shocked Brazil 2-1.
The teams could not be separated after extra-time in a thrilling contest after Asamoah Gyan hit the bar with a penalty in the second minute of added time that was given when Uruguay striker Luis Suarez handled on the line and was sent off.
Speculative Strike
Ghana had taken the lead with a speculative strike by Sulley Muntari just before the end of the first half of normal time but that was cancelled out by a masterful Diego Forlan freekick 10 minutes after the interval that brought the sides level.
Ghana were bidding to become the first African side to reach the semi-finals while twice World Cup winners Uruguay were trying to reach the last four for the first time in 40 years.
In a game of wildly changing fortunes, Uruguay had dominated the opening stages as they worked hard to set strikers Forlan and Suarez free.
Ghana, despite enormous support from their fellow Africans packing the stadium, surrendered the ball too easily to a hard-tackling Uruguay midfield.
It appeared to be going Uruguay’s way as they created the chances with Forlan blasting the ball over the bar and then minutes later Suarez’s shot was tipped over by Kingson.
Ghana suddenly woke up, though, and won their first corner from which central defender Isaac Vorsah should have opened the scoring but only managed to head wide. Minutes later striker Asamoah Gyan was sent through only to shoot wide.
Uruguay’s defence, which had only let in one goal on the way to the quarter-finals, suffered a blow when captain Diego Lugano had to limp off and was replaced by Andres Scotti.
Then in added time at the end of the first half, Muntari struck a spectacular long-range drive to put Ghana ahead.
Ten minutes into the second half, Uruguay won a freekick just outside the area on the left and Forlan struck the ball perfectly, bending it over everyone’s heads and beyond the despairing reach of Kingson for the equaliser.