By Victor Kanayo
Football star Liuz Suarez broke into tears the moment he confirmed that Uruguay have crashed of the ongoing 2022 World Cup despite beating Ghana 2-0 in the last group H match.
Though the South American side amassed four pointz, it wasn’t enough as South Korea with same points after stunning Portugal, pulled through to last 16 stage with superior goal difference.
South Korea scored a 91st-minute winner against Portugal through Hwang Hee-chan to secure their spot in the knockout round of the 2022 World Cup with a 2-1 success over the European nation.
Portugal have secured first position in Group H despite the defeat, with Fernando Santos’s side set to take on the runners-up of Group G in the round of 16 on Tuesday evening, which could be Brazil, Switzerland, Cameroon or Serbia.
South Korea were down and out until the final stages of the contest, with Hee-chan finishing past Diogo Costa to move his team above Uruguay into second position in the section on goals scored.
Santos’s side entered the match knowing that they needed a point to be certain of finishing at the head of the group, and Ricardo Horta sent the European team ahead in the fifth minute of the contest.Kim Young-gwon levelled the scores in the 27th minute, before South Korea, who had head coach Paulo Bento in the stands following his red card against Ghana last time out, won it in second-half stoppage time, but they then had to wait for Uruguay’s game against Ghana to finish before their progression was confirmed.
Bento’s side will now take on the winners of Group G in the next round on Monday, which could also be Brazil, Switzerland, Cameroon or Serbia.
On the other hand, Ghana, a West African side, famously missed an extra-time spot kick in a quarter-final against Uruguay in South Africa 12 years ago, spurned the chance to take the lead in the 21st minute when Andre Ayew’s tame penalty was easily saved by Sergio Rochet.
Uruguay made them pay with their first goals of the tournament as De Arrascaeta headed the ball over the line from close-range after a shot from Luis Suarez in the 26th minute and doubled their lead with a superb volley after Suarez was again involved in the buildup six minutes later.
The win lifted Uruguay to third place on four points, the same as South Korea, who squeaked through with more goals scored in the tournament after netting a late winner in a 2-1 victory over Portugal.
Ghana finished bottom of the group with three points
