The game against Ghana, in the quarter-finals, was remarkable and exciting for the fans
The Uruguayan team, two-time world champion, with titles in 1930 and 1950, took forty years to reach the top four in a World Cup. The competition held in South Africa in 2010 was a kind of “rebirth” of the “Celeste Olímpica”. The team finished the first phase in first place in Group A, which also included France, Mexico and South Africa. In the round of 16, they beat South Korea 2-1.
However, one of the most tense games of the World Cup was played on June 2, 2010, at Soccer City, in Johannesburg, in the quarterfinals. Uruguay and Ghana played an exciting and dramatic match. Ghana opened the scoring in the 47th minute of the first half. Muntari shot from long distance and beat goalkeeper Muslera. Forlán equalized 10 minutes into the second half, with a free kick. The match went into extra time. In the 15th minute of the final stage, Suárez saved a ball with his hand on the goal line. The referee awarded a penalty and sent the player off. To the sound of vuvuzelas, Gyan fell into disgrace when he shot against the crossbar.
The TV cameras showed Suárez’s joy at the opponent’s wasted penalty. In the penalty shootout, Uruguay won 4-2 and was among the four best teams in the World Cup. In the semifinal, the South American team lost to the Netherlands, 3 to 2. In the decision for third place, Uruguay and Germany repeated the same dispute from 40 years ago. The Germans, just like in 1970, came out on top (3 to 2), and were in third place. In any case, Uruguay returned to the world stage and honored the celestial race.
*This text does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Jovem Pan.
