Ghana bidding to rewrite history with a win against Uruguay
Published:While Argentina’s quarter-final tie with Germany may whet the purists’ appetites, Ghana’s last eight clash with Uruguay could create history.
If Ghana beat Uruguay, they will become the first African side to reach the World Cup semi-finals, and their form to date suggests that such an achievement is well within their means.
Uruguay are the favourites for the tie, and they are evens to win inside 90 minutes. Ghana, meanwhile, have beaten the USA and Serbia en route to the quarter-finals, and a win for the Black Stars is very temptingly priced at 16/5.
Both sides are tight defensively – Ghana have conceded just three goals, while Uruguay have leaked only one – and extra-time is a distinct possibility.
Should the match go beyond 90 minutes, Uruguay are 4/9 to qualify. The value, however, may be in backing Ghana to qualify at 13/8, considering that they have already prospered in extra-time at this World Cup.
The Black Stars could prove to be Uruguay’s toughest opponents yet, and Ghana will be encouraged by Uruguay’s second half performance against South Korea, where the South Americans looked vulnerable.
Having qualified from a group which included the weak South Africa, a shambolic French side and an ultimately rather limited Mexico, it seems that Uruguay have yet to face a truly stern challenge.
Ghana, contrastingly, had to battle their way past Serbia and Australia to progress from Group D alongside Germany, and they had to overcome a tough USA side in the round of 16.
There will be three Golden Shoe contenders on show for this fixture, with Asamoah Gyan leading the way for Ghana with three goals and Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez topping Uruguay’s scoring charts with two and three strikes each.
Gyan is enticingly priced at 6/1 to open the scoring, while Suarez is 9/2, and Forlan is the 4/1 favourite to open the scoring. Kevin Prince Boateng, meanwhile, is an outside 14/1 to break the deadlock, as he did against the USA.
Do you think this match will go into extra-time? The draw is 2/1. See the full Uruguay vs Ghana market.
