Uruguay progress to Holland clash ["agony"]

telegraph.co.uk ^ | July 2 2010 | PA

[Berlin_Freeper]

Ghana bowed out of the World Cup in the most heartbreaking circumstances in one of the most amazing finishes to a match the World Cup has ever seen.

In this tournament's 80-year history, surely there has never been such agony for a country, and a continent.

Luis Suarez had used his hands to keep out a header in the last minute of extra-time but his red card will be no solace to the Black Stars after Asamoah Gyan's spot-kick hit the bar and Uruguay triumphed in the shoot-out.

Soccer City was deathly silent as Ghana players collapsed in tears, while Uruguay celebrated their first semi-final appearance, in which they will play Holland, for 40 years.

The South Americans' goalkeeper Fernando Muslera was the hero, saving twice from John Mensah, the Sunderland centre-back, and Dominic Adiyiah, but there was a nasty taste left in the mouth as Suarez was carried shoulder high by his team.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Uruguay's Luis Suarez (9) handles the ball at the goal line during extra time in the 2010 World Cup quarter-final soccer match against Ghana at SoccerCity stadium in Johannesburg July 2, 2010.

[FReepaholic]

I thought this match would be a snoozer but it turned out to be one of the most exciting.

[AU72]

Dem the breaks.

Can you imagine the World Series being decided by a home-run contest?
The Super Bowl by a field goal contest?
The NBA Finals by a free-throw contest?
The Stanley Cup by a one-on-one contest?

[Berlin_Freeper]

The WC gets very intense.

I am convinced if you started dropping clubs and knives and pistols on the grass starting at about the 70th minute, the players would pick them up and use them.

[Riodacat]

The Ghana - Uruguay game was fun to watch particulary towards the end of extra time and the PKs, but it wasn't really great or skillful soccer - way too many missed chances by million dollar players.
With Holland already having beaten the #1 team in the world (Brazil), they should be good to go for the finals.

[Berlin_Freeper]

WSJ Poll
Should FIFA change the rules so that a shot blocked by a non-goalie's hand at the net counts as a goal?

In an epic quarterfinal Friday that hinged on a blatant handball, Uruguay defeated Ghana on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw to reach the semifinals. Uruguay striker Luis Suárez swatted away a sure Ghanaian goal at the end of extra time, drawing a red card and a penalty kick, but Ghana's Asamoah Gyan's ball hit the crossbar. Uruguay went on to win on penalty kicks, improbably returning to the semifinals for the first time since 1970 despite being one of the sport's smallest countries.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Ghana – Political chiefs dejected after Ghana exit
The loss was followed by a long silence in the large hall of a hotel where the ten leaders were passionately following the match. In a sombre mood, the dejected heads of state left immediately afterwards without comment to reporters outside, who had been trying to follow the match via the internet on their computers.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Relive The Ghanian PK Miss Over And Over Again

[Gay State Conservative]

I know almost nothing about soccer.Almost all of what I've learned about it I've learned in the last 10 days or so (I've been watching some of the WC games).After having seen England *and* the US cheated out of goals by abysmal calls by officials I think that what Fifa *should* do is establish some kind of replay plan...kinda like the NFL.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Tabarez hails team spirit
The Uruguay coach said: "I am very emotional. We didn't play well, but we have gone through.

"The players are very strong and have a strong team spirit.

"We have a little time to prepare for the match against Holland but we are going there to win."

He added: "We are very excited. These boys deserve everything. Today we didn't play well. It seems there's something forcing us on, it must be the strength and unity of these boys."

[God luvs America]

so the dude got a red card for using his hands? i thought the penalty was a penalty kick for the other team...

[Berlin_Freeper]

Agony for Adiyiah
Dominic Adiyiah: The pacy forward finished last year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup as a gold medallist, its best player and top scorer. He got his first taste of action on the most prestigious senior stage at Soccer City, but ended the match – and the tournament – in devastated mood. The AC Milan player gave the ball away more than he kept it after coming on as an 88th-minute substitute with the scores at 1-1, including one wasted cross when he had two unmarked team-mates to aim for, and worse was to come in the shoot-out. Adiyiah’s penalty, indeed, was tame and easily saved by Fernando Muslera. It provided Sebastian Abreu with the chance to send Uruguay into the semi-finals, which he did. The tears of joy the 20-year-old cried at the end of the last FIFA tournament he was involved in were now tears of pain.

[Mr. Mojo]

Watched ESPN to see some baseball highlights this afternoon and all I saw was a bunch of drama queens claiming they could barely breathe from all the excitement and sympathizing with the “unprecedented agony of the African continent.”

[Berlin_Freeper]

right, and the kick missed so the game went to overtime but there was still no goal so then it was settled with a penalty shootout.

[God luvs America]

right- I figured it out when I saw the video....can’t blame the Suarez guy....the only thing is do you think he could’ve headed the ball out or was using his hands completely necessary???

[Berlin_Freeper]

I think there was real agony. There are more pics at the link, it is late here.

Ghana's Dominic Adiyiah reacts after missing to score on a shootout penalty during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Uruguay and Ghana atSoccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday, July 2, 2010.

[Berlin_Freeper]

I think the only was he could stop the goal was by using his hands. I would just say that I think it was bad sportsmanship to be carried in celebration afterward. He should have stayed in the locker - IMO.

[AmishDude]

Clearly, there is no disincentive for a mediocre player to do this at the end of a match. The red card isn’t much of a punishment.

[ExtremeUnction]

Soccer City was deathly silent as Ghana players collapsed in tears..

Why all the crying?! That's why the US really doesn't care about this game. Someone (finally) score a goal and they run around and prance and dance and hug and cry..Creepy. Sissy stuff.

[Sender]

But the refs would never allow the kills to count. You would have to have a burning tire around your neck to get a ref’s attention.