Uruguay vs Ghana – Forlan and Suarez plot Black Stars’ plight
Published:Uruguay are ready to crush Africa’s World Cup hopes as they look to knock out the continent’s one remaining team, Ghana, at the quarter-final stage.
Ghana have won three of their last five matches and conceded just three goals in the process. In all five fixtures, Ghana have neither lost nor won by more than one goal, and this quarter-final clash promises to be similarly close-fought. The draw is 21/10.
Uruguay left it late to clinch victory against South Korea in the second round, as Luis Suarez struck a beautiful winner with ten minutes left.
Should the match go beyond 90 minutes, Uruguay would still be confident of progressing, and they are 7/1 to win after extra-time.
Ghana, meanwhile, reached the last eight by beating the USA in extra-time, and they are 14/1 to progress to the semi-finals by the same means.
Ghana’s top scorer at the World Cup, Asamoah Gyan, is 6/1 to add to his three goals by scoring first against Uruguay.
Gyan’s task will be made very difficult by a Uruguayan defence which has conceded four goals from eight matches. Marshalled by their commanding centre-back and captain, Diego Lugano, Uruguay are evens to keep a fourth World Cup clean sheet.
While their defence provides a solid foundation, it is in attack where Uruguay hold the biggest advantage over Ghana.
Luis Suarez has scored three goals in South Africa so far, and he is 9/2 to open the scoring, while Diego Forlan is 4/1 to also move to three goals by breaking the deadlock.
Suarez and Forlan will also be buoyed by the fact that Ghana’s influential captain and centre-back John Mensah will miss the tie through suspension.
Mensah has been an integral part of a Ghanaian defence which has kept seven clean sheets in 13 matches. Another shut-out for Ghana is priced at 11/5.
Can Ghana become the first African side to reach a World Cup semi-final? They are 16/5 to beat Uruguay. See the full Uruguay vs Ghana market.
