Rabat – The Uruguayan national team defeated Ghana 2-0 on Friday at the Al Janoub Stadium, as part of the group stage fixtures of the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup.

Ghana’s Andre Ayew missed an important chance to put his team in the lead, missing a penalty at the 21st minute, in a scene that brought back memories to fans of the 2010 match against the same country.

It wasn’t long before Giorgian de Arrascaeta opened the scoresheet for Uruguay, putting a header in the back of the net in the 26th minute.

Uruguay seemed determined to widen the lead, consistently pressing Ghana’s defenses before De Arrascaeta scored another for his team in the 31st minute.

Despite the victory, Uruguay will now be eliminated alongside Ghana, as South Korea won its game against Portugal 2-1. Ghana failed to become the third African representative in the knockouts, alongside Senegal and Morocco.

After a 3-2 loss against Cristiano Ronaldo’s side, Ghana were able to secure an important victory versus South Korea with the same result, solidifying their position in the group ahead of the final matchday, although their defeat knocked them out.

Uruguay were able to tie South Korea 0-0, but lost 2-0 against Portugal, which made a victory at today’s game crucial for La Celeste to keep their World Cup campaign alive, provided that South Korea didn’t win.

Revenge mission

This is not the first time Uruguay faced Ghana. An infamous quarter-final match between the two countries in the 2010 South Africa World Cup lives in Ghanian fans’ minds to this day.

A 1-1 draw forced the game to go into extra time, and Ghana were on the verge of making history as the first African team in the World Cup’s history to reach the semi-finals – in the first World Cup hosted on African soil no less.

A cross into the Uruguay box by the Black Stars at the very final minute of the game saw players aiming for the goal, with the ball ricocheting between the different players several times.

Right as the ball was about to enter Uruguay’s goal, Luis Suarez managed to stop the goal with his hand. For playing goalkeeper, Suarez was sent out of the game, and Ghana were awarded a decisive penalty.

With an entire continent’s hopes pinned on him, Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan took the penalty but ended up missing, with the ball hitting the post. Uruguay proceeded to win the game with penalty shootouts.

Following the game, Suarez became public enemy number one in Africa. After the game however, the star seemed to revel in his handball, proclaiming that he now had the “hand of God,” in a reference to Diego Maradona’s infamous 1986 goal against England which he scored with his hand.

When asked by African reporters about that 2010 match recently, Suarez said he does not feel the need to apologize, arguing that he was fairly punished with a red card and that Ghana missed a penalty that could have won them the game.

Regardless, football fans in Ghana don’t seem to be so receptive, with many saying that they have not forgiven him for the now 12 year-old handball.