Uruguay beat Ghana in penalty shootout

Sports Reporter:

A competitive, well played match between Uruguay and Ghana in the World Cup 2010 quarterfinal came to a thrilling conclusion when 29 minutes into extra time Ghana got one last opportunity with a free kick.

Boateng sent the ball into the box, where it met Appiah’s knee and was sent hurtling towards the back of the net.

Suarez blocked it, only to see it returned immediately by Adiyiah. To stop the ball from heading into the goal, Suarez used his hand deliberately. He was sent off, a straight red card, which ruled him out of the semifinal against the Netherlands. But he gave his team a chance to win, or, more accurately, Ghana a change to lose.

Gyan, who had hit from the spot twice before in this tournament, stepped to the ball. If he could score, Ghana would be the first African country to make the World Cup semifinal. But unfortunately Gyan clanked the ball of the crossbar on the last kick of the game.

Penalty kicks ensued, and Uruguay prevailed, thanks to Muslera, who saved two kicks. Abreu sealed the win and a sport in the semifinal by chipping the ball past Kingson on Uruguay’s fifth kick attempt.

It was one of the most exciting matches of the FIFA World Cup 2010.