GHANA’S revenge mission on Luis Suarez did not go to plan – but at least the Uruguayan did not have the last laugh on them.
The Black Stars had waited 12 years to get their own back after the man known as “the devil himself” denied them a place in the 2010 World Cup semi-finals.
They suffered more penalty heartache here as their World Cup dream was once again ended by Uruguay.
But the 2-0 win which Suarez helped to mastermind did not prove to be enough to take his team through.
A late winner for South Korea across town at Education City meant the South Americans miss out on the last 16 on goals scored.
The sight of an emotional Suarez – sitting on the bench with his shirt pulled over his head as time ticked away – might be small consolation to Ghana.
The former Liverpool striker is 35 now and his best days are behind him – but he can still produce the odd moment of magic as he showed in the first half here.
Uruguay were the only team in the tournament without a goal to their name going into this so the damage was done in their opening two games.
And they should have been behind midway through the first half.
Jordan Ayew’s low shot was spilled by Rochet and Mohammed Kudus was flagged offside as he went for the rebound with the keeper and tumbled to the deck.
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
However the VAR spotted the linesman had made a mistake and it also seemed like the keeper got nothing on the ball.
Referee Daniel Siebert had a long look before pointing to the spot.
Andre Ayew took the penalty but it was a poor one and it allowed Rochet to make amends by diving low to his left to push it out.
At the other end Giorgian De Arrascaeta slipped a pass through to Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez who clipped over the keeper but Mohammed Salisu got back to clear off the line
However it was not long before Uruguay did take the lead as a cross from the right should have been dealt with but it found Suarez at the back post.
He cut in and got his shot away and keeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi made the save but probably should have done better.
It may have bobbled in anyway but instead sat up nicely for Flamengo forward De Arrascaeta to nod in from almost on the goalline.
A second goal arrived just six minutes later as Nunez flicked on to Suarez who lofted a delightful pass into the path of De Aarrascaeta.
This time he had plenty to do but executed a perfect falling volley which fizzed beneath Ati-Zigi.
Both Ayew brothers were hooked at the break as Ghana coach Otto Addo desperately tried to find a way back into the game.
It’s fair to say there will not be many snaps of this game in the Ayew family album in years to come.
The Black Stars had more energy after the break but were still getting caught when Uruguay broke.
Ref Siebert was asked by the VAR to go and look again when Daniel Amartey brought down Nunez after a tussle in the box.
But after reviewing it several times he decided not to award a penalty – much to the surprise of almost everyone.
Suarez was given a yellow card for foul on Thomas Partey and then time-wasting – much to the delight of the Ghana fans who were still making plenty of noise despite their teams plight.
He was subbed soon afterwards to be replaced by ex-Manchester United man Edinson Cavani.
Ghana tried to pull one back as sub Antoine Semenyo shot across the face of goal before Kudus had a shot superbly turned round the post by Rochet.
Uruguay thought they were cruising but then news came through that South Korea had taken the lead against Portugal.
Suddenly they were out as while their goal difference was identical, their rivals had scored more goals them.
They had eight minutes of stoppage time to find the goal they needed to put them through again.
However in a frantic finale it did not arrive and that will surely be the last we see of Suarez in a World Cup.
