World Cup matches are more nervy affairs than free-flowing football. Brazil or Spain usually are the exceptions. Ghana showed on Monday it need not be exclusive territory, and then defended like their life depended on it in the end.
The Black Stars outran South Korea in the first half and then withstood a great comeback to win the Group H thriller 3-2 at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan. The result left the 2022 FIFA World Cup’s lowest-ranked team in a great place before facing Uruguay in the last group game.
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In a game settled exclusively by left-wing attacks, Ghana forward Mohammed Kudus scored first for a 2-0 half-time lead and then produced the winner after Korea came roaring back to draw level with two headers from Cho Gue-Sung in the space of three minutes.
It was a mad scramble in the last 20 minutes, including 10 minutes of added time, as Korea kept on lobbing the ball into the box, but they could not find their way through the crowded Ghana defence. The game ended in controversy after referee Anthony Taylor blew the final whistle with Korea looking to take one final corner.
Korea’s Portuguese coach Paulo Bento was shown the red card after remonstrating angrily with Taylor.
Ghana sprang to life late in their 2-3 defeat against Portugal on Thursday, and time paid their early enterprise paid off. Son Heung-min, still wearing a face mask to protect his healing eye socket, could not make early corners count and once the African side took control, their rhythm and play down the flanks made him peripheral.
Skipper Andre Ayew controlled the midfield. A free-kick after Daniel Amartey’s right-wing run was stopped came to naught before Ghana struck twice.
Jordan Ayew was the provider for both goals. In the 24th minute, he sent a left-wing free-kick deep into the box. The ball came off a defender’s head, bounced off Andre Ayew’s arm and another defender’s foot, dropping in the middle of four Ghana players. Mohammed Salisu reacted first to tap in at the far post. Ghana seemed lucky as a VAR check for a Ayew handball didn’t get Korea relief.
Another Jordan Ayew delivery from deep on the left could not be handled by Korean defenders and Mohammed Kudus headed in, making it 2-0.
Ghana had reached the Round of 16 in Germany (2006) and the quarters in 2010. With that generation fading out, they were out in the group stage in 2014 and didn’t qualify for Russia in 2018. The current bunch had struggled for form, but the fighting win should boost their confidence.
Korea, the 2002 semi-finalists, roared back in the second half. Bento sent in Lee Kang-in and his cross from the left in the 60th minute was headed in by Cho Gue-Sung. Korea, playing at a higher gear now, equalised three minutes later with another Cho header. This time the left-wing cross came from Kim Jun-su and Cho rose behind two defenders to head home.
Ghana regained the lead in the 68th minute after a left-wing cross rolled across the box. Inaki Williams missed at the first post but Kudus sent in a swerving left-footer unchallenged at the far post. Korea’s late flurry of attacks were thwarted by the brilliant Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi and the defence.
Ghana face Uruguay in their last group game and Korea, who drew 0-0 against Uruguay, run into Portugal.
