World Cup 2010 Quarterfinal Uruguay vs Ghana - first half report
Ghana ended the first half against Uruguay 1-0 for good in the 2nd quarter final of FIFA world cup 2010 at Johannesburg. It was all Uruguay till the end of the first half and it was in simple words a shock to the South Americans who dominated their un-fancied opponents for 45 minutes till the last kick of the half that saw Muntari smash a left footer to give Ghana the lead.
Right at the start of the match there was a signal of intent when the 'Rock of Gibraltar' John Mensah crunched into Luis Suarez from behind to concede an early free-kick on the halfway line.
Uruguay did start brightly though, there was some attacking intent as Diego Forlan busted forward from inside his own half, but his pass to Alvaro Fernandez down the right was heavy and the chance was lost.
But at the other end there was the first sign of Ghana players shooting from a silly distance - Kwadwo Asamoah shot lamely wide from 25 yards when he should have just pumped the ball back into the Uruguay box.
Uruguay were having most of the ball, but they had not create a clear-cut chance. Moments later Luis Suarez cut in from the left, but his shot was straight at Richard Kingston who saved comfortably.
Ghana needed to get a foothold in the game; though they got the ball on rare occasion, they kept giving it back straight away. But one could forgive them for being nervous.
Uruguay ploughed a free-kick into the Ghana box and Richard Kingston, under no pressure at all, punched unconvincingly straight up into the Johannesburg night sky. When it landed, in the middle of a packed six-yard box, he punched again but was rescued by the referee.
Uruguay were bossing the game and Diego Forlan was looking very dangerous on the break, along with partner-in-crime Luis Suarez. Another corner from the left was flicked on and hit John Mensah, with Richard Kingston pulling off a great reflex save.
2 minutes later Fucile was booked and it could have been for either of his two fouls inside a few seconds, and the defender will be suspended if Uruguay reach the semi-final.
Diego Forlan was buzzing - he narrowly failed to play in Edinson Cavani, before picking up the rebound and smashed a right-foot shot just high and just wide from 22 yards.
Ghana had Richard Kingston to thank again - Luis Surez caught his marker sleeping as Uruguay took a quick throw-in and from about 16 yards he fizzed in a right-foot drive that Kingson did really well to acrobatically tip over. It was all Uruguay.
The pattern continued till almost the final kick of the half, when from out of nowhere Sulley Muntari found some space outside the Uruguay 6 yard box and unleashed a left foot drive that sneaked in the bottom right corner, Ghana took a shocking lead as the half ended 1-0.
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