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.

Uruguay went on the attack right from the start of the match with front-three Facundo Pellistri, Suarez and Darwin Nunez combing seamlessly to create a succession of chances, and Nunez having a goalbound effort cleared away.   Uruguay finally broke the deadlock on 26 minutes when Nunez's cross was missed by two defenders and found Suarez, whose low shot was spilled by the keeper for De Arrascaeta to head home from close