Ghana have kept their hopes of going through to the FIFA World Cup knockout stages alive after beating Korea Republic 3-2 in an entertaining Group H match at Education City Stadium at Al Rayyan on Monday.
Goals by Mohamed Salisu and a brace by Mohamed Kudus were enough to see the Black Stars of Ghana coasting to their first World Cup win since 2010 and Africa’s third at this year’s tournament.
Both Mohammeds benefitted from Jordan Ayew’s perfect deliveries from set-pieces to punish the Koreans in the first half, with the Asians having started well in the early stages of the game.
Gue-Sung Cho gave them hopes, scoring two headers in the second half to put the daylight to the Korean fans in the stands. But it wasn’t to be.
The Koreans were the first get out of the blocks in this game, conjuring six corners in 15 minutes. But Ghana struke first, when Salisu netted from close range in the 24th minute.
Ghana were in total command at that point as Ayew delivered another inch-perfect cross for Mohamed Kudus to net with a header in the 34th minute.
The Africans ensured that Son Heung-Min was kept in check as every time he had a ball four or five Ghana players were on him.
While they kept their eyes on the Tottenham Hotspurs star striker, they forgot to mark Cho, who plays for Jeonbuk Motors in his homeland, to grab the doubles in quick successions.
But Kudus, who has been impressive for Ajax Amsterdam in the Netherlands and scored against Bafana last year in the AFCON qualifiers in Mzansi, side footed in the 68th minutes to relieve tensions in Ghanaian bench and coach Atto Oddo. But Koreans came back strong after Kudus’ goal with Salisu clearing one ball before it crossed the net.
Both sides will have four days to prepare for the next and final match. The Koreans face Portugal while Ghana face Uruguay in what will be grudge match looking at what happened 12 years, with all matches taking place on Friday at the same time (17:00).
