Dutch dream lives on but heartache for Ghana and Africa

Gyan missed a penalty in the dying seconds of extra time but scored in the shootout.

The handball in question came at the hands (no pun intended) of Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan palmed a shot off the line in the dying seconds of extra time, denying Ghana what would have been a 2-1 victory. Suarez was shown a red card, but his cheating was justified in the eyes of Uruguay when Asamoah Gyan took the resulting penalty and hit the bar. Gyan bravely stepped up to take Ghana’s first penalty in the shootout that followed, but misses from Mensah and Adiyiah meant Uruguay earned a semi final tie with the Netherlands, who beat Brazil 2-1 earlier in the day.

Ghana took the lead in Johannesburg in stoppage time of the first half. Former Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Muntari, who now plays for Inter Milan, scored with a stunning 35 yard strike. No one from Africa criticised the Jubulani as Muntari’s shot curled past keeper Fernando Muslera. Ghana were arguably the better side throughout, but Uruguay’s equaliser matched Muntari’s goal in terms of beauty. Diego Forlan, who looks far better in South Africa than he ever did at Manchester United, took the score to 1-1 with an incredible free kick in the 55th minute. The curl on the ball proved too much for Kingson to deal with, and Uruguay were level.

Whether it was deserved or not, Uruguay’s victory takes them through to the semi-finals for the first time since 1970. Ghana exit the World Cup having done both their country and their continent proud.

In the other game of the day, the Netherlands managed a shock 2-1 victory over Brazil, making James Southern and I look like idiots and Aimee Howarth like the genius of our co-blogging trio. Brazil led in the first half, Robinho scoring a lovely goal after just ten minutes. It was Robinho’s second goal of the tournament, and the semi-finals beckoned for Brazil.

But in the second half, Holland produced a comeback. Ironically, Brazil’s Felipe Melo was at the heart of it. First, Melo equalised for the Netherlands with an own goal, heading past his own keeper. The Juventus midfielder was understandably frustrated, but he dealt with it the wrong way. Perhaps frustration was the reason he stamped on Arjen Robben 20 minutes later; either way, it was stupid, and he was sent off as a result. The Netherlands had gone 2-1 up five minutes earlier, thanks to Wesley Sneijder, and with a one man disadvantage Brazil never looked like getting back into the game.

It was a disappointing end to former Brazil captain Dunga’s reign as coach, but full credit goes to Holland, who have now gone an incredible 24 international games unbeaten. Victory over Uruguay would take them to their third ever World Cup final, but can they go on to win the golden trophy for the first time? Stranger things have happened in South Africa.

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