Ghana, the bottom ranked crew of the event, shocked the Portuguese. Will they do the identical to the South Koreans?
Who: South Korea vs Ghana, Group H
When: Monday at 4pm (13:00 GMT)
The place: Schooling Metropolis Stadium, Al Rayyan
FIFA rankings: South Korea 28, Ghana 61
When the ultimate whistle blew, Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa bowed his head and solemnly walked off the pitch. It was an uncharacteristic response for somebody who had completed his World Cup debut on the successful aspect. Ghana ahead Inaki Williams was accountable for Costa’s moroseness.
Simply moments earlier, Costa had been caught out by Williams when taking a objective kick. Williams had lingered behind on the objective and pounced on Costa the minute he put the ball down. Williams’ wiliness took Portugal unexpectedly, and out of nothing, he had an empty objective to fireside into. However that’s the place his luck ran out. He slipped as he received the ball, and his tame shot didn’t even attain the objective.
Match soccer hinges closely on margins. Had Williams not slipped, Ghana would have made it 3-3. All 4 groups within the group would then have had one level. However he did, and because of this, the Black Stars enter their subsequent sport in opposition to South Korea pointless and backside of their group. Margins.
Coming in because the lowest-ranked crew of the event, little was anticipated of this Ghanian aspect. However what they lack in high quality, they make up for in tenacity. They pushed Portugal to the hilt and had been unlucky to not come away with at the least some extent.
Ghana, led by their tireless captain, André Ayew, confirmed of their first sport that they aren’t going to be pushovers. Mohammed Kudus, the 22-year-old Ajax midfielder, is the X issue of this Ghanaian aspect, and his sharp actions created issues for Portugal.
However questions stay over their defence, which capitulated within the second half. Portugal’s three objectives flattered their efficiency on the night time.
Ghana now play a aspect that didn't have a shot on track of their opening sport – however has the tempo to bother Ghana.
South Korea’s goalless draw in opposition to Uruguay was the primary time that either side have didn't have a shot on track in a World Cup match this century.
The Taeguk Warriors’ defensive quartet of Kims deserve credit score for conserving a clear sheet in opposition to an assault that includes Darwin Nunez, Luis Suarez, Federico Valverde and Edinson Cavani. Ayew and his crew can have their work reduce out for them in opposition to this South Korea aspect, which has prevented its opponents from scoring in its final three video games and has conceded simply six objectives in its final eight video games.
Son Heung-min sported a masks within the sport in opposition to Uruguay, however South Korea’s superhero was largely ineffective. Whereas he has struggled for kind this season for Tottenham, he stays South Korea’s most potent power and has scored 4 objectives in his final seven appearances for his nation. South Korea’s tempo is their key energy.
It’s a crunch sport for either side. A win would enhance South Korea’s possibilities of qualification and they might have the ability to enter their last sport in opposition to a fancied Portugal with the consolation of already having 4 factors on the board.
Ghana have to keep away from defeat to stay within the competitors. They tackle Uruguay in a tantalising last group sport, wherein they’ll be seeking to actual revenge for Suarez’s handball clearance within the 2010 World Cup quarter-final.
That added motivation might assist carry them over the end line in opposition to Uruguay if they begin that sport with their qualification probabilities intact. The probabilities are beautiful.
For that, they should first safe factors in opposition to South Korea, in opposition to whom Ghana maintain the sting of their head-to-head document, having received 4 of the seven video games they’ve performed. The final time they met, Jordan Ayew’s hat-trick led Ghana to a 4-0 win.
Each side would possible accept a narrower win this time. As soon as once more, it might come right down to the margins.
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