Uruguay's South American Pride

Images by El Universo

Yesterday, approximately 84,000 people in the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, and millions around the world witnessed the dramatic and epic definition of penalty kicks that gave Uruguay the pass to semifinals of this 2010 FIFA World Cup. This intense match, Uruguay defeated Ghana in penalty kicks 4 - 2, after a draw as full time 1 - 1 and after Ghana's national team missed penalty shot kick at the last minute by the end of the second extra time. With this result, Uruguay will now face the Netherlands, who won with much effectiveness against Brazil. For the first time in 40 years, the Uruguayan national is in the semifinals. The key play of this match was the missed penalty shot that Asamoah Gyan executed, but it was missed after the ball hitting the upper post.

The big consequence for the Uruguayans payed hard after striker Luis Suarez threw the ball out with the hands over the goal line, after the potent header from Ghana's Dominic Adiyiah, but unfortunately Suarez received a red card and possibly miss the next matches if Uruguay advances further in this tournament. Suarez is Uruguay's top scorer with three goals in this tournament so far, making Suarez one of the World Cup's lethal strikers. The tears and disappointment was mainly for Ghana because of the missed penalty shot, which could have given the African team hope for the continent for a place in the semifinals. With Uruguay's greatest achievement in this tournament, their luck has grown after being the last team to qualify for the World Cup, is still alive in this tournament in the semifinals playing against the Netherlands. Their luck has also grown during the penalty kicks where Uruguay's goalkeeper Fernando Muslera saved two of Ghana's penalty shots, and Sebastian 'El Loco' Abreu, kicking with effectiveness the ball to shoot Uruguay's last penalty shot, thus advancing to the next round.

Before the penalty shots and the added extra time, in the first half, Ghana's Sulley Muntari scored by the end with a long shot that goalkeeper Fernando Muslera reacted late and couldn't prevent the ball from going into the net. Then, at the second half Uruguay outgrew Ghana, with Uruguay's Diego Forlan's goal after a free kick, Uruguay became dangerous. On Tuesday, Uruguay will face the Netherlands, who surprisively eliminated Brazil with a 2 - 1 victory. If Uruguay wins over the Netherlands, it will be the first time the South American advances to the final since 1950.