Ghana vs Uruguay Head to Head Preview & Recap
Thrilling and Controversial 2010 World Cup Quarterfinal Rematch
⚽Ghana vs Uruguay: Game Recap⚽
Results: Ghana 0-2 Uruguay
Uruguay beat Ghana 2-0 in their final Group H match, but both sides failed to qualify for the knockouts after South Korea defeated Portugal.
Ghana was awarded a penalty after Inaki Williams fired a low shot straight at Sergio Rochet, who fumbled the ball, leading to Mohammed Kudus sneaking in at the back post and eventually getting tripped by Uruguay’s goalkeeper. Ayew stepped up to take the penalty, but Rochet comfortably saved his low effort to keep the scoreline level.
Mohammed Salisu made an excellent clearance off the line minutes later to deny Darwin Nunez, who tried to chip the ball over Lawrence Ati-Zigi with a cute effort on goal. However, Salisu managed to get back in time to deny Uruguay from taking the lead in the 21st minute.
The South American nation eventually went ahead after Nunez found Luis Suarez with an inch-perfect cross. The 34-year-old’s low-driven shot was parried by Ati-Zigi and finally found the head of Giorgian de Arrascaeta, who knocked the ball into the net from two yards out.
Uruguay then doubled their lead in the 32nd minute when De Arrascaeta bagged his second of the game with a wonderfully struck volley into the goal, after an assist from Suarez.
Uruguay was denied a penalty in the second half after Daniel Amartey appeared to bring down Nunez in the box. However, after going to the VAR monitor, referee Daniel Siebert ruled that the Ghana center-back got a toe on the ball.
Kudus had an excellent opportunity to claw a goal back when he shot low from just outside the area, but his attempt was saved brilliantly by Rochet in the second half.
The match then swayed when news filtered that South Korea had taken the lead against Portugal, which meant Uruguay were heading out of the World Cup if they didn’t score a third. Despite their efforts, they failed to get the extra goal to send them through to the last 16.
Did We Get It Right?
Below you will find all the predictions we made before the matchup, on November 29, 2022.
Match Circled on Ghana’s Calendar
The last and only time Uruguay and Ghana met, it was an instant classic. Uruguay’s Luis Suarez also became public enemy number one in Ghana with his unsportsmanlike handball. It seems fitting now that Ghana, who lost that match in PKs, can knock out Suarez on what could be his last-ever World Cup match. Ghana hold a two-point lead over Uruguay in the standings and could likely advance with a draw. Meanwhile, La Celeste absolutely need to win this Ghana vs Uruguay head to head matchup to have a chance to advance. Let’s check out the latest odds, news and stats for an electric group stage finale.
Ghana vs Uruguay
Date, time (TV):
Location: Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah, Qatar
Streaming: FS1, Peacock
Team Standings and Odds:
| Team | FIFA World Ranking | World Cup Qualifying Record | Knockout Stage Odds | Odds to Win World Cup |
| Ghana | 61 | 4-3-1, 1st Group G | -110 | +50000 |
| Uruguay | 14 | 8-4-6, 3rd CONMEBOL | Ev | +8000 |
| All Meetings: | Teams |
|---|---|
| Jul 2010: | Uruguay 1-1 Ghana |
The Ghana vs Uruguay head to head history is very short as they’ve only met once previously. In that 2010 World Cup quarterfinals match, Sulley Muntari hit an incredible long range strike from 40 yards out to put Ghana ahead. Golden Ball winner Diego Forlan scored on a second half free kick to level the score at one.
Both soccer teams had chances in a back and forth match that went into extra time. In the dying embers of the match, Luis Suarez handballed a Ghana header off of his own goal line that would have made Ghana the first African team to reach the semifinals. Asamoah Gyan missed the resulting penalty and Ghana went on to lose in the shootout. Suarez went on to say: “I made the save of the tournament.”
Ghana: Confident Kudus Sinks South Korea
Standings: 1-1, 3 pts, 2nd
Previous Match: 3-2 W vs. South Korea, 2-3 L vs. Portugal
Ghana made history with their 3-2 win over South Korea in their second match. It was the first time ever the Black Stars scored three goals in a World Cup match and their first World Cup win since 2010. Mohammed Kudus led the way with two goals and he’s looked like Ghana’s most dangerous player at the tournament. Kudus isn’t short on confidence either. He recently said: “He’s [Neymar] not better than me. He’s just a higher profile player, that’s all”. Along with Kudus, Jordan Ayew was a standout. The Crystal Palace forward made the most of his return to the starting lineup with two first half assists on delicious deliveries.
With five goals in two matches, Ghana are one of just four teams with at least two goals in their opening two games. In fact, Ghana have scored in their last seven World Cup matches and conceded in their last nine, which includes the last Ghana vs Uruguay matchup. Overs have been hitting left and right in Ghana’s World Cup matches. At least three goals have been scored in the last five Black Stars World Cup games.
It remains to be seen whether that’ll be the case vs. a Uruguay side that hasn’t scored yet at the tournament. In any case, Otto Addo’s Ghana have impressed as the lowest-ranked team in the entire tournament. Their last ditch effort defending vs. South Korea was inspiring and willed them to victory. The Black Stars currently sit at shorter odds to make the knockout stage than Uruguay and it’d be a significant achievement.
Uruguay: Two Games, No Goals
Standings: 0-1-1, 4th
Previous Match: 0-2 L vs. Portugal, 0-0 D vs. South Korea
Diego Alonso’s Uruguay are at serious risk of missing out on the knockout stage for the first time in the last four World Cups. They had a couple of great chances vs. Portugal on Monday but couldn’t seem to find the back of the net. Rodridgo Bentancur danced past a handful of Brazilian defenders in the first half but his low shot was saved by Diogo Costa. Second half substitute Luis Suarez also missed at point blank range.
Through two matches, Uruguay have failed to find the back of the net. Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez has looked active but has been playing on the wing instead of in the number nine role. Strikers Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez are both aging and playing in what’s almost certainly their last World Cup. With just one point, Uruguay sit in last place in the Group H 2022 FIFA world cup standings. They can’t finish ahead of Portugal, who are on six points. So, Uruguay can only win this match and hope that South Korea don’t defeat Portugal to advance.
Uruguayan substitutes Facundo Pellistri and Giorgian de Arrascaeta added a burst of energy and quality to the side. It’ll be interesting to see if they play a bigger role here. Regardless, La Celeste are in must-win mode and on their first two-game winless streak for over a year.
Match Analysis and Odds:
If this Ghana vs Uruguay head to head matchup is half as good as the last one, it’ll be a great match. Uruguay enter the match as ½-goal favorites and sit at both -145 ATS and moneyline odds. So far, La Celeste are 0-2 ATS in the tournament and have severely underperformed. Meanwhile, Ghana show +125 odds to draw or win the match and come in at +430 moneyline odds.
A draw is expected to be enough for Ghana and it is priced at +285 odds for Friday’s match. It’ll be interesting to see how Otto Addo sets up his side for this match. Ghana sat back in the first half of their 3-2 loss to Portugal and didn’t create much. Things opened up significantly in the second half as the teams combined for five goals. He switched to four at the back vs. Korea and the match was a back and forth affair.
‘Under 2½ goals is currently listed at -120 odds and that’s occurred in both of Uruguay’s matches’
Given the fact that Ghana have something to protect, it’s likely they will set up with five at the back, like in the Portugal match. Under 2½ goals is currently listed at -120 odds and that’s occurred in both of Uruguay’s matches. Expect Uruguay boss Diego Alonso to also make some changes knowing his side needs to win here. This match should be contentious and could potentially be the end of an era for Uruguay.
