(Doha) A double from Mohammed Kudus allowed Ghana to beat South Korea 3-2 in a game with twists and relaunch in the race for the round of 16 at the World Cup-2022, Monday at Education City Doha Stadium.
After a frustrating defeat against the Portuguese (3-2), the Ghanaians take their first three points in Group H and a good option on qualifying before Friday and the revenge of the 2010 World Cup against Luis Suarez’s Uruguay. With only one point, South Korea is not yet eliminated, but has seriously compromised its chances.
Mohammad Salisu (24e) and Mohammad Kudus (34e) had allowed the Black Stars to lead 2-0 at the break. But Cho Gue-sung gave hope to South Korea by scoring twice (58e61e), before Kudus imitated him and restored the advantage to the Ghanaians (68e).
As during the start of the very animated, but sterile, match against Uruguay, Son Heung-min and his teammates launched an attack on the opposing goal from the first minutes. But the six corners obtained by the South Koreans in twenty minutes did not allow them to open the score against the defense of the Black Stars, however very little reassuring.
It was finally the Ghanaians who used their second set piece to open the scoring against the run of play.
On a free kick struck by Jordan Ayew, Salisu took advantage of an uncertain clearance from Napoli defender Kim Min-jæ to give the Ghanaians the advantage (24e). After recourse to the VAR for a suspicion of hand of André Ayew, the goal was validated by the referee.
PHOTO JUNG YEON-JE, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Mohammad Salisu
Established by Otto Addo, his younger brother Jordan took full advantage of the confidence granted by his coach, by being the decisive passer a second time on a free kick for the talented midfielder of Ajax Amsterdam Kudus, who came to cut his head (34e).
But the Taeguk Warriors showed great mental resources after the break. Preferred at the forefront to former Bordeaux player Hwang Ui-jo, ineffective against Uruguay (0-0), Cho (Jeonbuk Motors) allowed his side to pick up in three minutes thanks to a double header (58e61e).
Kudus then came to extinguish the South Korean revolt by scoring his second goal of the match, with a victorious recovery from the left (68e). He thus offers his team the right to dream of the eighth.
With only one point and a game to come against Portugal Ronaldo, the dream is moving away for the South Koreans, however, on the verge of elimination.