Ghana and Uruguay both crashed out of the World Cup after a dramatic sequence of events in Group H despite La Celeste’s 2-0 win.
Twelve years of heartache appeared to weigh heavily on Andre Ayew’s shoulders as he stepped up to take Ghana’s penalty against Uruguay.
Over a decade since Asamoah Gyan’s infamous miss against La Celeste in Soccer City, Ayew had the chance for redemption. After a fast start from the Black Stats, Mohammed Kudus was brought down by Sergio Rochet and VAR intervention offered Ghana the chance to get one back on the most bitter of old rivals.
Ayew, however, missed his spot kick, a rather tame effort by any metric. From there, the belief dipped and Luis Suarez – ever the pantomime villain – rolled back the years. Outside of Suarez repeating his handball in 2010, the sight of him playing such a key role in a Uruguay win would surely have been the nightmare scenario for Ghana heading into their final group game.
While it was Giorgian de Arrascaeta who scored both goals, Suarez was heavily involved. The first, minutes after Ayew’s miss, saw Lawrence Ati-Zigi parry the veteran’s shot into de Arrascaeta’s path, while the second must have proven even sweeter.
Suarez’s delicate dink into de Arrascaeta’s path saw the Flamengo hit a volley past Ati-Zigi, sending Uruguay into the break with a commanding lead.
A raft of Ghanian changes did give them more in attack after the break, with both Kudus and Osman Bukari going agonisingly close to turning in a response from close range, though Uruguay held out.
South Korea’s late win, however, rendered the Uruguayan win meaningless, as they progressed behind group winners Portugal.
