Scoring and winning was not worth Uruguay

Scoring and winning was not worth Uruguay

The 'old guard' of Suárez, Cavani or Godín retires in Catar

MADRID, 2 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Neither Ghana nor Uruguay will be in the round of 16 of the World Cup after the 0-2 victory of the 'Celeste' against the 'Black Stars' at the Al Yanub Stadium, and both say goodbye to Qatar 2022 after the triumph of South Korea against Portugal --already classified-- in the other duel of this Group H.

It seemed that Ghana or Uruguay would accompany Portugal to the qualifiers and that the other ticket holder would come out of this duel. In the end, in another surprise of the many that this World Cup is giving, it will be Korea who will go through and from this fight they both came out defeated.

Uruguay finally opened its scoreboard of goals scored with a brace from a Giorgian De Arrascaeta who had had little weight in the initial two days and who restored the confidence of the coach, with the title, with a brace and being the best of his team.

But scoring was insufficient, as was winning. Uruguay seemed comfortable with that 0-2 and chose to defend the score well. It is something that is natural in the 'charrúa' and they did it perfectly. Until Hwang Heechan's goal in discount in South Korea-Portugal (2-1) changed everything.

Many possibilities opened up in the Ghana-Uruguay game. There were about 5 minutes of play left plus the addition, which was 9 more minutes. Uruguay needed one more goal to have a better 'average' than Korea, with the same 4 points. But Ghana needed two goals to tie and, in a carom, go through.

The two teams had to go in a rush to the rival area and the game turned into a schoolyard. A duel without a head, without strength, in which spaces appeared to allow deep passes and superior attacks. In short, occasions. And there were Lawrence Ati Zigi and Sergio Rochet, the two goalkeepers, to stand out.

Rochet kept Uruguay alive and Zigi, one of the World Cup surprises, prevented the 'Celeste' from reaching the round of 16. Edinson Cavani had the best chance, although offside. The veteran striker also claimed two penalties for his 'Celeste', with Luis Suárez already on the bench and more nervous than him if he were on the pitch. He ended up crying, desperate.

And it is that there was no way to find the third goal. The two-time world champion says goodbye to Qatar 2022 by one goal. A single goal after scoring just two in this last duel. And the old guard of the Cavani and Suárez, also of Cáceres and Godín - who did not play - leaves. They all retire, internationally, in the Qatari oasis where they did not find 'water', but sand.

The first part saw the best version of Uruguay. Also the best minutes of Luis Suárez, who assisted the clear protagonist this time Giorgian De Arrascaeta. The Flamengo midfielder scored a double, first with a header and then with a beautiful volley from Suárez's header. But the joy at half-time ended in tears at the end of the game.

--RESULT: GHANA, 0 - URUGUAY, 2 (0-2, at halftime).

GHANA: Destruction; Seidu, Amartey, Salisu, Baba Rahman; Samed (Kyereh, min.72), Thomas; Kudus (Isaac, min.98), A.Ayew (Bukhari, min.46), J.Ayew (Sulemana, min.46); y Williams (Cement, min.72).

URUGUAY: Rochet; Varela, Gimenez, Coates, Olivera; Pellistri (De la Cruz, min.66), Valverde, Bentancur (Neighbour, min.34), De Arrascaeta (Gomez, min.80); Suarez (Cavani, min.66) and Nunez (Canobbio, min.80).

0-1. Min.26, De Arrascaeta.

0-2. Min.32, De Arrascaeta.

--REFEREE: Daniel Siebert (ALE). He admonished Sulemana (min.86) and Alidu (min.99) in Ghana and Núñez (min.20), Luis Suárez (min.60), Coates (min.87), Giménez (min.100) and Cavani (min. .100) in Uruguay.

--STADIUM: Al Yanub Stadium.