Stunned Uruguay beat Ghana but exit World Cup on goals scored

02.12.2022 - 21:19 channelnewsasia.com

AL WAKRAH, Qatar : Giorgian de Arrascaeta scored twice in six minutes to give Uruguay a 2-0 win over Ghana on Friday but it was not enough to prevent them crashing out of the World Cup on goals scored.It was the first time in two decades that la Celeste have failed to reach the knockout stage.Unable to score in their first two matches, Uruguay needed a win to advance from Group H and for already-qualified Portugal to avoid defeat by South Korea.

But the Asian side's shock 2-1 win - the second goal coming in stoppage time - ensured they went through by virtue of having scored two more goals.

With South Korea tied with Portugal late in their match and Uruguay two goals up, the South American side had one foot in the last 16 before the pendulum swung in the direction of South Korea, who ahead in the table on goals scored.

Uruguay battled desperately for the decisive goals, with Ferderico Valverde going close with a volley from outside the area and Maxi Gomex having his shot saved by keeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi two minutes from time.

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The sight of a tearful Luis Suarez hiding his face in his shirt and an enraged Edinson Cavani knocking over a VAR monitor encapsulated Uruguay's sadness and frustration at their World Cup exit.

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AL WAKRAH, Qatar : With a history of deep World Cup runs and a squad oozing talent and experience, Uruguay's failure to reach the tournament's knockout stages for the first time in two decades was a footballing disaster entirely of their own making.

Stunned Uruguay win but dumped out of World Cup on goals scored

AL WAKRAH, Qatar: Giorgian de Arrascaeta netted twice in six minutes as a resurgent Uruguay beat Ghana 2-0 on Friday (Dec 2) in a battle for their World Cup survival, only to crash out agonisingly on goals scored after South Korea's shock win over Portugal. In Group H deciders that went right down to the wire, Uruguay had one foot in the last 16 before South Korea scored in stoppage time to go through by virtue of notching one goal more than the South Americans over their three matches. Uruguay had left themselves with a mountain to climb, with their cast of big-name strikers unable to find the net in their opening games, leading to their first group-stage exit in two decades. "Without doubt, we did everything we could. We paid dear," said De Arrascaeta. "We are sad because we left our all in this game, we scored goals and the outcome didn't depend on us, it left us out." Veteran striker Luis Suarez, playing in his fourth World Cup, was recalled to the team as captain and was instrumental in both of the goals. At the final whistle, he was inconsolable and in tears after Uruguay's fate was sealed. With South Korea tied with Portugal late in their match and Uruguay two goals up, La Celeste looked almost certain to go through before the pendulum swung agonisingly in the direction of South Korea.