Uruguay vs. Ghana (02.07.2010)

In an exhilarating encounter on July 2, 2010, Uruguay and Ghana provided one of the most dramatic matches of the FIFA World Cup 2010. With a place in the semifinals at stake, both teams fought valiantly, leading to a gripping conclusion that was decided by penalties.

The match witnessed its first major change in the 38th minute when Uruguay's coach decided to make a tactical adjustment, bringing in Diego Lugano as the first substitution of the game. However, it was Ghana who would draw first blood. Just before the half-time whistle, in the 45th minute, Sulley Muntari unleashed a powerful strike from distance that found the back of the net, giving Ghana a crucial lead heading into the break.

Uruguay emerged from halftime with renewed purpose, and their second substitution saw Álvaro Fernández entering the fray at the 46th minute mark. Their persistence paid off in the 55th minute when star player Diego Forlán scored a spectacular normal goal, leveling the scores and reigniting Uruguay's hope.

As the match wore on, both teams made further strategic changes. Ghana brought on Samuel Inkoom in the 74th minute and later substituted out the goal-scorer Muntari in the 88th minute. Edinson Cavani was Uruguay's third and final substitution in the 76th minute, as they pushed for a winning goal.

Despite both teams' best efforts, the tie persisted well into extra time. The drama peaked in the dying moments of the match. At 120+1 minute, Forlán stood up to take a penalty for Uruguay but was unsuccessful. Almost immediately after, in the 120+2 minute, Ghana's Asamoah Gyan had the chance to be the hero with his penalty but also failed to convert, sending the match to a tense shootout.

In the penalty shootout, Uruguay's Mauricio Victorino and Andrés Scotti both scored their penalties at 120+3 and 120+5 minutes, respectively. However, there were twists still to come. John Mensah missed for Ghana at 120+6 minutes, and then, astonishingly, Maxi Pereira missed for Uruguay at 120+7 minutes, which maintained the knife-edge suspense.

Dominic Adiyiah's miss for Ghana at 120+8 minute piled the pressure on Sebastian Abreu, who, with nerves of steel, stepped up at 120+9 minute and calmly chipped the ball into the net, securing a historic win for Uruguay.

The match ended in a remarkable victory for Uruguay, as they advanced to the semifinal of the World Cup after a thrilling and emotionally charged shootout, while Ghana were left to rue their missed opportunities to become the first African nation to reach the last four of football's grandest stage.

Lineup Uruguay

Lineup Ghana

Substitutes Uruguay

Substitutes Ghana

Uruguay

Uruguayan national football team is one of those national teams that can boast of having become world champions. The South American team did it twice in 1930 and 1950. They have also racked up great success in the Copa América, winning a total of 15 titles over time. They traditionally play their home games in light blue jerseys and away games in white.

Ghana

Ghanaian national football team has dreamt of participating in the World Cup for a very long time, as they first qualified for the tournament in Germany in 2006. And on their debut, they advanced from the group stage and were knocked out by Brazil in the eighth finals. They were able to improve on this 4 years later at the following championship, where they fell in the quarterfinals to Uruguay. Ghana went on to win the Africa Cup of Nations four times plus they won five second places and one third.

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