Ghana Out of World Cup 2010 After Asamoah Gyan’s Penalty Miss

July 2nd, 2010 | by: Daryl |

This was maybe the single most exciting minute of World Cup 2010. It was definitely the cruelest minute of World Cup 2010.

With Ghana and Uruguay level at 1-1 in the final minute of extra time, Ghana launched a final attack, causing a mad scramble in the box. Uruguay saved, then cleared off the line legally, and then – at Ghana’s third attempt – Uruguay’s Luis Suarez handballed to keep the ball out. The result was a red card for Suarez, and a penalty for Ghana with time about to expire. If Asamoah Gyan could score from the spot (as he had done twice already in World Cup 2010) then Ghana would become the first African team in the World Cup semi-finals.

But he didn’t. Gyan hit the bar, and Ghana went on to lose to Uruguay in the penalty shootout, making maybe the cruelest and most bitterly ironic exit in World Cup history.

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netsez

POOR GHANA! What a way to loose! Missing a PK at the last second!
Hana

Excuse me whilst I go throw up.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Piotr-Fraczek/1436150814 Piotr Fraczek

“It was the best of times it was the worst of times….”
http://twitter.com/RabsWorld Rab Bakari

Maaaaaan! I was with Ghana since 2004. This…… Was a huge upset for me. The penalty goal was a given goal & a sure win for GHana & Africa. Incroyàble! Never should have went to PKs. Wow!
http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/WSG5MFNWCXAXDLW5U2T432LJGA Phil

Sweet now yall haters can leave Thierry Henry alone :-)

Seriously, bummer for Gyan, poor guy, but only has himself to blame. You can't be missing goal like that as a professional footballer, you just can't.
http://twitter.com/EdgarBoccanegra Edgar Boccanegra

Nah. Suarez got punished, Henry didn't
Bense235

Yep, Henry cheated, Suarez took one for the team. Says a lot you can't tell the difference. Ghana missed that fucking penalty themselves.
Bense235

Ghana has no one else to blame than themselves. They had the 85%+ chance of converting the penalty (as any penalty taking team has) and a 50/50-chance during the penalty shoot-out. Oh, and 120 minutes and a lead to defend before.
Lewsir

Sorry folks but I just can't believe that a deliberate hand ball to prevent a sure goal doesn't result in an automatic goal. That's the only rule that makes sense. I also think deciding games in a shootout is ridiculous. And its time for modern technology to assist the referees in making good calls. In general I love watching soccer, but I think the rules need a major overhaul…
http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/ELSYNDLODYYOVNRDT3SX6QSUFQ Alan J

So by cheating, Uruguay went from a 0% chance of winning to something like a 12% chance of winning. And Suarez was “punished” by going from not being able to play in the semifinal (because his team was eliminated) to…not being able to play in the semifinal.

How exactly was he “punished”? That's a bizarre justification. Now if FIFA can grow a pair and ban him for the final/3rd place match, then I'll consider him punished. As it is now, all of the consequences for him have been positive or neutral.
http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/LUQKR55I7SHGIF6OD7ZVB77WAY peterr

A deliberate handball of a goal bound ball to me should be allowed to stand as a goal…am sure if the ref had consulted his linesman a correct decision may have been made…anything else is match fixing period!!
feleke

Yes I agree with u.FIFA should revise the rule.if it goes like this alot of agly messes will happen in the futur.this couldn't be beauty of soccer.why FIFA scare of accepting truth?