Uruguay scrape past Ghana into semis against Holland

Uruguay beat Ghana and make it to semis against Holland

REUTERS

By RFI

Uruguay beat the last African team in the tournament Ghana, 4-2 on penalties during a dramatic finale at Soccer City, Johannesburg. After breaking the hearts of Ghana's fans in South Africa, Uruguay goes on to play the Netherlands in the semi-finals in Cape Town on Tuesday.

Ghana scored first through Inter Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari with a 30-yard drive
in first-half stoppage time, before Diego Forlan equalised with a long-range
free-kick in the 55th minute.

The Uruguayan squad dominated the first half of the match, breaking into Ghana’s back-line on several occasions.

Luis Suarez shot straight at Ghana’s goalkeeper Richard Kingson and Diego Forlan forcde Kingson to punch clear his long-range free kick early on.

But two minutes before half-time, Muntari let fly with a long-range effort which beat the diving Fernando Muslera, sending African fans gathered in the stadium wild with excitement.

Uruguay eqalized after half-time with a long-range goal from Forlan in the 55th minute.

Throughout the second half of the match, neither Uruguay nor Ghana were able to take the lead, setting them up for extra time.

In a dramatic finale during extra time, Asamoah Gyan missed a last-minute spotkick awarded after Luis Suarez handballed on the line - which saw the striker sent off - though Gyan converted in the shootout.

During penalties, Gyan, scored a first goal for Ghana. But John Mensah, followed by Adiyah both missed their penalty against Muslera, while Maxi Pereira was the only Uruguayan striker to fail.