By Edna A. Quansah (Courtesy Ministry of Youth and Sports, Betway Ghana)
Doha (Qatar), Dec. 2, GNA- Two goals from Giorgian de Arrascaeta was all Uruguay needed to hand Ghana another painful 2-0 defeat in the final Group H match on Friday.
They, however, failed to cruise to the last 16 stages of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Doha, Qatar.
Arrascaeta’s first-half goals ended Ghana’s campaign in the Mundial, a match the Black Stars needed at least a draw to sail through to the next stage of the biggest football competition.
Coming into the game, the Black Stars were in search of a win to revenge the agonizing loss suffered when Uruguay eliminated Ghana at the quarterfinal stage in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa when Luis Suarez’s last-minute handball denied the West Africa side. A penalty was awarded to Ghana but captain Asamoah blew the chance away.
Against Uruguay at the Al Janoub Stadium, Ghana had a penalty after Sergio Rochet Alvarez brought Kudus Mohammed down, but, skipper Andre Ayew blew the glorious chance away with his poorly taken spot kick to deny Ghana the lead in the 21st minute.
In the 22nd minute, Portugal’s Darwin Nunez nearly got his side the lead after beating Lawrence Ati-Zigi but Salisu Mohammed’s timely clearance kept the game barren.
With Uruguay needing at least three unanswered goals to progress, Arrascaeta capitalized on a rebound to power his side ahead with his bullet header in the 26th.
Six minutes on, Arrascaeta showed good awareness inside the box as he latched on to a brilliant pass and fired a first-time shot into the back of the net with an assist from Suarez.
With defeat looming before Ghana, substitute Kamaldeen Sulemana clipped a neat ball into the box in the direction of Osman Bukari, but he failed to get on the end of the pass to pull one back for Otto Addo’s side.
The Black Stars fought to hit past the two-time world champions but lacked the potency to go ahead of their nemesis.
Despite Uruguay winning, the Sky Blues joined Ghana to exit the tournament following South Korea’s 2-1 victory over Portugal at the Education City Stadium.
Ghana finished the competition with three points having won a game and losing two matches.
Portugal topped Group H with six points, with South Korea in the second position to advance to the round of 16 stages.
Lineup: Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Baba Rahman, Mohammed Salisu, Daniel Amartey, Alidu Seidu, Abdul-Samed Salis/Daniel-Kofi Kyere, Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew/Kamal Sulemana, Andre Ayew/Osman Bukari, Kudus Mohammed, Inaki Willaims/Antoine Semenyo
GNA