They thought it was all over Bar the penalty ... well, it is now Gyan’s last-minute goal miss leads to fatal penalty shoot-out
Ghana had history within their grasp until the final shot of extra time against Uruguay at Soccer City, Johannesburg. Yet instead of becoming the first African team to reach the semi-final of the World Cup the Black Stars were forced into an unsuccessful penalty shoot-out after Asamoah Gyan, hitherto their most successful player of the tournament, with the score at 1-1 hit the ball onto the cross-bar. Although he scored in the ensuing penalty shoot-out the Ghanaians were gunned down. Goalkeeper Richard Kingson’s series of saves kept out the Uruguayan’s early surge. Ghana came back strongly with firm attacking moves towards the end of the first half. On the stroke of the interval Sulley Muntari scored with a curling shot from 35 yards out. The South Americans equalled the score with a swerving shot from Diego Forlan in the 55th minute. Eight minutes later the same player laid on the pass from which Luis Suarez hit the ball into the side netting. Uruguay seemed to ride the pressure better as the teams strove to score the deciding goal. Yet the Ghanaians entered the second half with the sharper edge. Such was their dominance that from the last proper shot of the match – with the West Africans attacking in strength and ability – Suarez could only use his hand to save Stephen Appiah’s shot at an otherwise open goal. The consequent penalty seemed to give Ghana the game, but Gyan could only hit the bar. Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera saved twice in the shoot-out.
GHANA ARE THROUGH TO THE QUARTER-FINALS GYAN’S EXTRA TIME GOAL KNOCKS FIGHT OUT OF U.S.A.
Ghana led the way into the Quarter-Finals of the 2010 FIA World Cup by beating the U.S.A. 2-1 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg – but they had to wait for extra time to do it. The victory set up a match with Uruguay in Johannesburg on 2nd July. The Ghanaians promised to swamp their opponents when Kevin Prince Boateng scored in the 5th minute by beating goalkeeper Tim Howard at the near post, and they held the advantage throughout the first half. The Americans came more strongly into contention after the interval but goalkeeper Richard Kingson kept out the attacks. After an hour of play Mensah bundled over Dempsey in the penalty area: Landon Donovan scored from the penalty in the 62nd minute, the ball skipping in from the inside of the post. Kingson continued to defy the sharper Americans to keep a more lacklustre Ghana in the contest until the end of the full time. After the break the Ghanaians regained their vivacity of the first half. Three minutes into extra time Ayew hit a long pass to Asamoah Gyan. He held off two defenders and hit home the winning goal. That score seemed to knock the fight out of the U.S.A. Ghana continue to carry the hopes and expectations of the whole of Africa in the first major international tournament to be played on that continent – without seeming to have played yet to the best of their ability. Their best performance could be yet to come.
Ghana - deprived of place in semi-final by last shot on extra time hitting bar
NO FAIRYTALE RESULT FOR AFRICA GHANA ALONE PROGRESS TO NEXT ROUND
Ghana, alone, of the African nations survived the preliminary “group” round of the World Cup finals in South Africa. There were no fairy-tale results for the other “home” teams in the most significant international sports tournament to be staged in Africa. There were flashes of individual brilliance but a general lack of consistency as the Latin Americans took the early honours. Yet sides such as South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire were in the class company of outgoing champions Italy and former champions France in taking an early leave of the party. The Ghanaians impressed without quite coming up to the promise of their opening match 1-0 over Serbia, victors over Germany in their next outing. Even then – and although Ghana had the edge throughout the game – they had to wait for Asamoah Gyan’s 84th minute penalty against the 10-man opposition. The West Africans had the advantage, too, for most of the time against under-rated Australia but after ceding a shock 11th minute goal had to settle for a 1-1 draw through a further Gyan penalty in the 24th minute. Both Ghana and Germany had several chances to score and goalkeeper Richard Kingson saves kept the former from losing by more than 1-0 after Ozil scored for their opponents. Hosts South Africa did as much as could have been expected before losing out to Mexico on goal-difference for a place in the next round. Siphiwe Tshabalala scored the first goal of the tournament (in the 55th minute) against the run of the play in the 1-1 draw with Mexico. The following 0-3 loss to Uruguay really ended South Africa’s chances. Even so they finished in style with a surprise 2-1 victory over France. Katlego Mphea was prominent in the flurry of attacks on the French goal in the closing stages, but the several misses were crucial in deciding the goal-difference. Cote d’Ivoire did not recover after drawing 0-0 with Portugal, in spite of having the advantage of the play, and losing 0-3 to Brazil. Their 3-0 victory in a storming match with North Korea, in which both teams exchanged chance for chances, came too late. Nigeria lost 0-1 to Argentina and 1-2 to Greece before finding some form to gold South Korea 2-2. Cameroon can take little consolation in losing 0-1 to Japan, 1-2 to Denmark and 1-2 to the Netherlands, Samuel Eto’o scored both their goals and goalkeeper Hamidou Souleymanou saved them from going even further behind.
