The “Black Stars” have booked the first points on their World Cup account with the 3-2 win against South Korea and thus still have every chance of reaching the round of 16. The team around superstar Heung-Min Son has to tremble.
After the 2-3 draw against Portugal, Ghana was under pressure in Group H with interim coach Otto Addo, but held up remarkably well on Monday (November 28, 2022) at Al-Rayyan’s Education City Stadium -Min Son determined a crazy game over long stretches, the Africans coldly used their few chances to score.
Before the final game against Uruguay on Friday (December 2, 2022 / 4 p.m.), Addo, who is a youth coach at Borussia Dortmund in his main job, has good prospects for the third push into the knockout round of a World Cup. South Korea, four years ago still a stumbling block for the German team, has only one point from the 0-0 draw against Uruguay and has to worry about progressing against Portugal.
Freiburger Jeong moves into the starting XI
Both coaches each made three changes to their starting XI. South Korea’s coach Paulo Bento also put his trust in Freiburg attacking player Woo-Yeong Jeong. Only the bench remained for Jae-Sung Lee from Mainz. Since the ailing defense chief Min-Jae Kim gave Kim the green light in time, the Kim chain in the South Koreans’ defensive network was complete again. Ghana’s Addo set up his team a little more attacking than against Portugal, when the “Black Stars” had braced themselves against the threat of defeat only in added time.
Salisu surprisingly gives Ghana the lead
First, however, the Ghanaian defense, which had been converted to a back four, had to do hard work. South Korea started strongly, staging powerful attacks down the wings through Tottenham star Son and hauling out a multitude of corner kicks in the early stages. But while the Ghanaians often let their opponents have their way in midfield, they retained control of the air in the penalty area.
5-0 goals scored for South Korea in the first 20 minutes. But Ghana took the lead out of nowhere thanks to a set piece. Jordan Ayew kicked a free kick from the left into the six-yard box that the South Koreans couldn’t clear. Mohammed Salisu made it 1-0 (24′). The goal was checked by the VAR team for a possible handball by André Ayew, but English referee Anthony Taylor allowed the goal.
Kudus makes it 2-0
Ten minutes later, the game was completely turned upside down with the 2:0. The starting point was again Jordan Ayew, who this time served a cross from the left halffield. The South Koreans even allowed him to put the ball on his powerful right foot. Mohammed Kudus was criminally free in the center in front of the goal. The offensive player from Ajax Amsterdam let the perfect cross slip over the top into the corner (34th). Until then, Ghana had brought two balls onto the opposing goal, hitting twice. Accompanied by a shake of the head, the South Koreans trotted into the cabins.
“Header monster” Cho makes it 2-2 with a brace
The means they chose to catch up after the restart surprised – especially the Ghanaians’ back line. Gue-Song Cho, at 1.88 meters one of the tallest South Koreans, suddenly became a “header monster”. Ghana’s goalkeeper Lawrence Ata Zigi fended off his first attempt with a flight (53′). But he was powerless in the two following attacks by the South Koreans based on a cross from the left and a header. The powerful jumper Cho climbed higher than his guards and equalized within three minutes to make it 2:2.
South Korea’s Cho brace against Ghana was not enough.
Kudus again – 3:2 for Ghana
In an effort to add a third goal, the South Koreans neglected their defensive work. A short time after their spectacular brace, they left two Ghanaians free in the penalty area when they attacked their right-back. Iñaki Williams sabered over the ball, but Kudus, who was lurking on the right, took measure and hit the far corner with his left to make it 3-2 (68′).
Red card for coach Bento
The spectacle wasn’t over yet. South Korea pressed for the equalizer. But goalkeeper Zigi showed with another save from a dangerous free kick by Kang-In Lee why Addo had chosen the FC St. Gallen keeper at the World Cup (75th). A minute later, Salisu cleared a Jin-Su Kim shot off the line for his battered keeper. Jin-Su Kim didn’t keep his nerve in the 84th minute either. In the end, Ghana survived the South Koreans’ power play and brought the valuable result with passion and luck over time. South Korea’s coach Bento got a red card after the final whistle.