A missed penalty heralds Ghana’s elimination as Uruguay strike twice shortly afterwards. The South Americans have been on course for the round of 16 for a long time – until South Korea strikes in the parallel game at almost the last minute. The late assault of the two-time world champion fizzles out unsuccessfully.
Luis Suárez has once again become a bogeyman for Ghana – but it hasn’t helped Uruguay either. The two-time world champion from South America and the Black Stars were eliminated in the World Cup preliminary round. For Uruguay, the 2-0 (2-0) in a direct duel was not enough because in the parallel game South Korea beat the Portuguese, who had already qualified for the round of 16. Shortly before the end, Suárez cried on the bench – word had gotten around about the South Korean winning goal.
Twelve years after the scandalous game in Johannesburg, which made Suárez persona non grata for the opponent, Giorgian de Arrascaeta (26th, 32nd) made things clear in the Al Janoub Stadium – each time Suárez assisted. Ghana’s captain Andre Ayew had just awarded a penalty kick (21st), which the Berlin referee Daniel Siebert had given after video evidence at his second appearance at this World Cup.
Suárez, 35, was given the confidence of national coach Diego Alonso against Ghana of all places and returned to the starting XI. In the quarter-finals of 2010 he prevented the safe 1:2 against the Black Stars on the goal line with a handball. Suárez was sent off, Asamoah Gyan missed the penalty and Uruguay eventually prevailed on penalties.
Some might say he’s “the devil himself,” Suarez explained ahead of the reunion. But he is not aware of any guilt. “I handballed but the Ghana player missed the penalty, not me,” he argued. The Ghanaian fans saw things differently, and when the team line-ups were read out, there was a plethora of hoots.
The 43,443 spectators watched the tough first 15 minutes. Then it really started: Siebert decided on a penalty for Ghana after video evidence, Mohammed Kudus from Ajax Amsterdam, who was very conspicuous in the first two games, was fouled by Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet. The Uruguayans, led by Suárez, persuaded Siebert – in vain, of course. But it didn’t matter anyway: Ayew’s poorly taken penalty was easy prey for Rochet. Then the celeste turned up. In the space of six minutes, Suárez assisted twice and de Arrascaeta assisted twice.
But the aging Suárez not only flourished in the penalty area, the veteran star could hardly be stopped in the constant dialogue with Siebert. After an hour he picked up the yellow card for complaining. After 65 minutes he made way for the equally deserving Edinson Cavani, his team had everything under control. Siebert went outside again for a video check in the second half, this time he decided against a penalty for Uruguay – and later again.
