WORLD CUP: Ghana exit World Cup as Uruguay triumph in penalty shoot-out

Ghana missed a penalty in extra time and then failed in the shoot-out as Uruguay advanced to the semi-finals of the World Cup, 4-2 in sudden death.

URU: 1
GHA: 1
Uruguay win 4-2 on penalties

Venue: Soccer City, Johannesburg

Crowd: 84,017

Referee: Olegario Benquerenca (Portugal)
Assistants: Jose Cardinal and Bertino Miranda (Portugal)
Fourth official: Alberto Undiano (Spain)

Yellow cards: URU - Fucile, Perez, Rios GHA - Pantsil, Sarpei, Mensah

Red cards: Suarez (Uruguay)

MATCH REPORT

Ghana failed to become the first African team to reach the World Cup semi-finals after missing a last minute penalty in extra time, then failing from 12 yards in the shoot-out with Uruguay.

At the end of 90 minutes the score was 1-1 and extra time looked to be ending in the Black Stars favour in the most dramatic of fashions as they were awarded a penalty in the final minute.

Anthony Annan took a free-kick into the penalty area and in the ensuing scramble Dominic Adiyah’s header on goal was punched away by striker Luis Suarez who received an instant red card.

With whole of Africa willing Asamoah Gyan to score the Rennes striker smashed his spot kick against the crossbar paving the way for a penalty shoot-out.

Earlier Sulley Muntari gave the Black Stars a first half lead with a shot from 40 yards which deceived the South American keeper Nestor Fernando Muslera, but similar suspect keeping allowed Uruguay to level just after the break from Diego Forlan’s free kick.

Both teams had chances to win the game in normal time but with players visibly tired the prospect of extra time was almost inevitable.

Then came the heart-stopping climax which ended with Ghana the players looking absolutely devastated, and a crying Gyan having to be consoled by his team-mates.

For Uruguay it means a first World Cup semi-final since 1970 and a meeting with Holland on Tuesday for the right to contest the 2010 final.

Starting Line-Ups

URU

1. Nestor Fernando Muslera
16. Victorio Maxi Pereira
2. Diego Lugano (Scotti, 38)
6. Mauricio Victorino
4. Jorge Fucile
20. Alvaro Fernandez (Lodeiro, 46)
15. Diego Perez
17. Egidio Arevalo Rios
7. Edinson Cavani (Abreu, 76)
9.
10. Diego Forlan

SUBS

12. Juan Castillo (GK)
3. Diego Godin
5. Walter Gargano
8. Sebastian Eguren
11. Alvaro Pereira
13. Sebastian Abreu
14. Nicolas Lodeiro
18. Nacho Gonzalez
19. Andres Scotti
21. Sebastian Fernandez
22. Martin Caceres
23. Martin Silva (GK)

GHA

22. Richard Kingson
4. John Pantsil
15. Issac Vorsah
5. John Mensah
2. Hans Sarpei
6. Anthony Annan
7. Samuel Inkoom (Appiah, 73)
21. Kwadwo Asamoah
23. Kevin-Prince Boateng
11. Sulley Muntari (Adiya, 88)
3. Asamoah Gyan

SUBS

1. Daniel Adjei (GK)
9. Derek Boateng
10. Stephen Appiah
12. Prince Tagoe
14. Matthew Amoah
17. Rahim Ayew
18. Dominic Adiyah
19. Lee Addy
20. Quincy Owusu-Abeyie
16. Stephen Ahorlu (GK)