Ghana and Uruguay rematch at Qatar World Cup opens the wounds of 2010

SPORT

In 2010, Ghana were the width of a crossbar away from becoming the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals.

Asamoah Gyan hit the woodwork with a penalty in the last minute of extra time after Uruguay’s Luis Suárez had been sent off for pushing the ball away with his hands on the goal line.

It meant the game ended 2-2 and Uruguay went on to win a dramatic shootout, which Suárez celebrated wildly.

The two teams meet again at 5pm on Friday. For Ghana, it is a long-awaited chance to get revenge. 

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For Suárez, it prompted more questions.

This is a crucial match in group H, with Ghana knowing victory will send them through and Uruguay needing a victory to stand a chance of qualification.

The match 12 years ago was one of the most controversial in World Cup history.

Gyan told the BBC:

“We have South Korea, Portugal and Uruguay - and the most important game for Ghana is against Uruguay. It is in the back of everybody’s mind, going for revenge, revenge, revenge.”

Gyan added: 

Gyan scored three goals in South Africa and Ghana were on the attack in the last minute of extra time as their thrilling 2010 quarterfinal with Uruguay was tied at 2-2.

Suárez blatantly blocked Dominic Adiyiah’s header on the line with his hand and was promptly sent off - but Gyan could not take advantage as his penalty bounced off the bar. Suárez, watching on from the tunnel, wildly celebrated the miss.The match went to a penalty shootout and Gyan scored Ghana’s first penalty, but Uruguay won 4-2 before losing to the Netherlands in the semifinal.

“I scored a penalty in the first game, a very crucial one against Serbia and I scored against Australia through a penalty as well,” recalled Gyan, now 36 and without a club.

"I scored in extra time against America so the confidence level was that high.

“I just needed to step up and shoot. Honestly, I will say it was one of those days because my penalties do not go that high.

“I didn’t know how that penalty went high. I think it was a technical error or something.

“When we went to the penalty shootout, I just wanted to prove a point. I had to step up and I scored - you have to come back and prove yourself.”