Uruguay stops at the World Cup 2022
Uruguay spent the last 15 minutes full of emotions. Up to the 85th minute, they were the team that won the ticket to continue when they beat Ghana 2-0, while Korea drew 1-1 with Portugal in the match at the same time. Then the wind reversed when Korea scored the decisive 2-1 thanks to Hwang Hee-chan's first minute of compensation. At this time, Korea and Uruguay have four points and a difference of +0. But the Asian representative ranked above Uruguay thanks to more goals (4 vs 3). Luis Suarez and Darwin Nunez were substituted earlier, and cried when they heard the news.
When the match between Korea and Portugal ended, the confrontation between Uruguay and Ghana entered the first extra minute in a total of eight minutes. In the third minute of compensation, Edinson Cavani fell in the penalty area, but the referee did not cut the whistle and VAR did not intervene. In the seventh minute, Cavani stretched, but Sebastian Coates deflected the column. Uruguay's hopes ended in the 10th minute, when Nicolas de la Cruz took a free-kick over the fence but couldn't beat Ati-Zigi.
After blowing the final whistle, referee Daniel Siebert was surrounded by Uruguay players for not blowing a penalty when Cavani fell. Jose Gimenez and Edinson Cavani are shown yellow cards for overreacting. But that doesn't matter because Uruguay only finished third, behind Korea and Portugal. In the technical area, Suarez sat sobbing. This is most likely the last World Cup of the generation of Suarez, Cavani, Diego Godin or Fernando Muslera.
Uruguay and Ghana created a classic match in the 2010 World Cup. At that time, in the second extra time, at 1-1, Luis Suarez used his hand to block Vorsah's header right on the goal line. and get a red card. On the 11m mark, Asamoah Gyan hit the bar and Suarez enthusiastically celebrated outside the touchline. The match went to a penalty shootout, and Uruguay won 4-2.
Suarez is a living witness as the only starting player left from the starting line-up in the 2010 quarter-finals. After more than 12 years, the almost similar scenario played out at Al Janoub. In the 18th minute, after going outside to review the video, referee Daniel Siebert determined that Mohammed Kudus was fouled by goalkeeper Rochet Alvarez, and gave Ghana a penalty. On the 11m mark, Andre Ayew shot slightly to the right corner and was saved by Rochet. Ghana are the only team to miss two penalties against the same opponent at the World Cup, since 1966.
This can be considered a turning point, helping Uruguay regain its spirit and score two goals in six minutes. In the 26th minute, Daniel Amartey and Alidu Seidu both missed Darwin Nunez's right cross, sending the ball to Suarez's position. The 35-year-old striker led a few beats and then kicked the ball, forcing goalkeeper Ati-Zigi to push away. De Arrascaeta was very quick to come in, heading into an empty goal.
In the 32nd minute, Suarez continued to sow Ghana's sorrow when he kicked the ball with one touch to the left for De Arrascaeta to catch a diagonal volley to double the lead. De Arrascaeta is the third Uruguayan to score a brace in the first half of a match at a World Cup, after Juan Peregrino Anselmo against Yugoslavia in 1930 and Oscar Miguez against Bolivia in 1950. Uruguay won the gold cup in both competitions.
In the second half, Uruguay retreated deep into the squad and ceded the entire game to Ghana. Coach Diego Alonso even withdrew Suarez, Facundo Pellistri, Arrascaeta - who scored twice - and Darwin Nunez off the pitch. He probably didn't think that Korea could beat Portugal. Only when cornered, did Uruguay rise up and put great pressure like the first half. However, the South American representative could not score more goals and got eliminated from the World Cup group stage for the fourth time, after 1962, 1974 and 2002.
