July 2, 2010 remains an unforgettable night for Ghana, a match that continues to stir pride, anger, disbelief and heartbreak among the country’s supporters, according to the match account of the contest at Soccer City in Johannesburg.
The 2010 tournament was the first World Cup held on African soil and featured a then-record six African teams. By the time Ghana met Uruguay in the quarterfinals, the Black Stars were the continent’s last remaining side after South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroon, Algeria and Ivory Coast had been eliminated. South African fans had embraced Ghana, dubbing them “BaGhana BaGhana,” the account says.
Ghana reached the quarterfinal by beating Serbia, drawing with Australia and Germany in the group stage and defeating the United States 2-1 after extra time on a decisive Asamoah Gyan goal in the Round of 16, according to the same account. Soccer City was packed with 84,017 spectators and the atmosphere felt less like a neutral fixture and more like a continental mission.
On the field, Uruguay arrived with Diego Forlán in strong form and Luis Suárez among the tournament’s most dangerous forwards. Sulley Muntari opened the scoring deep into first-half stoppage time with a long-range left-footed strike that goalkeeper Fernando Muslera misjudged. Ten minutes after the break Forlán equalized from a curled free kick. The match grew increasingly tense; Kevin-Prince Boateng threatened with a late header and Stephen Appiah and Dominic Adiyiah forced key saves in extra time, the report notes.
With the game on the verge of penalties, Ghana won a free kick and John Paintsil delivered into the box. Suárez blocked Appiah on the line and then used his hands to punch the rebound away; referee Olegario Benquerença awarded a penalty and sent Suárez off for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. Asamoah Gyan — who had converted penalties against Serbia and Australia earlier in the tournament — took the spot kick. His attempt was described as powerful and well-struck but lacking the necessary precision, the match account concludes.
