Giorgian de Arrascaeta scored twice as Uruguay beat Ghana 2-0 on Friday but it was not enough to keep them in the World Cup after South Korea pipped them to the Group H runners-up spot with victory over Portugal.
Ghana, who famously missed an extra-time spot kick in a quarter-final against Uruguay in South Africa 12 years ago, spurned the chance to take the lead in the 21st minute when Andre Ayew’s tame penalty was easily saved by Sergio Rochet.
Uruguay made them pay with their first goals of the tournament as De Arrascaeta headed the ball over the line from close-range after a shot from Luis Suarez in the 26th minute and doubled their lead with a superb volley after Suarez was again involved in the buildup six minutes later.
The win lifted Uruguay to third place on four points, the same as South Korea, who squeaked through with more goals scored in the tournament after netting a late winner in a 2-1 victory over Portugal. Ghana finished bottom of the group with three points.
Luis Suarez was in the throes of agony after discovering South Korea’s lead over Portugal whilst on the bench CREDIT: Amnu Fernandez/AP
Luis Suarez pulled his shirt over his head, hiding his face from the world, as the tears flowed down his cheeks and his shoulders shook with despair. Here was one of the great pantomime villains of our time, reduced to a sobbing wreck against the country where he is widely regarded as “the devil himself”.
Ghana had reason for their own disappointment, having also failed to qualify from this World Cup group, but the devil’s tears must have tasted deliciously sweet for a nation that remains scarred by the anguish of 2010. This was not the “revenge” that Ghana craved against Suarez, but there is no doubt their people will take some solace from dragging him down with them.
We know this to be true because of the reaction from the Ghana supporters here, in Qatar’s Al Janoub Stadium, when Suarez’s aghast face was shown on the big screens. The sight of the striker’s suffering prompted a cheer of genuine, unashamed relish, despite Ghana’s own imminent exit from the tournament.
This World Cup has delivered some remarkable storylines already and few are more enthralling than the fact that Uruguay were knocked out of the competition because of a goal scored in the 91st minute of a different match in a different stadium. The emotion of it all proved too much for Suarez, who knows there will be no more World Cups for him, and he seemed to melt into his grief on the bench.
Ghana had reason for their own disappointment, having also failed to qualify from this World Cup group, but the devil’s tears must have tasted deliciously sweet for a nation that remains scarred by the anguish of 2010. This was not the “revenge” that Ghana craved against Suarez, but there is no doubt their people will take some solace from dragging him down with them.
We know this to be true because of the reaction from the Ghana supporters here, in Qatar’s Al Janoub Stadium, when Suarez’s aghast face was shown on the big screens. The sight of the striker’s suffering prompted a cheer of genuine, unashamed relish, despite Ghana’s own imminent exit from the tournament.
This World Cup has delivered some remarkable storylines already and few are more enthralling than the fact that Uruguay were knocked out of the competition because of a goal scored in the 91st minute of a different match in a different stadium. The emotion of it all proved too much for Suarez, who knows there will be no more World Cups for him, and he seemed to melt into his grief on the bench.
Mass consolation needed at the Al Janoub Stadium
How Group H finishes
