Kudus Leads Ghana to Brilliant World Cup Victory



Mohammed Kudus scored twice as Ghana beat South Korea 3-2 in Monday’s pulse-pounding World Cup match to keep their World Cup hopes alive and leave Paulo Bento’s team ahead of an early exit.

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Mohammed Salisou opened the scoring midway through the first half at the Education City stadium, while Ajax midfielder Kudus doubled the lead for the Black Stars.

But the Asian team, which looked toothless in the first half, roared back after the break, equalizing thanks to a quick double from striker Cho Gue Sung on either side of the hour mark.

Ghana looked shell-shocked as the Korean fans cheered wildly, but they took the lead again in the 68th minute when Kudus finished calmly at the back post after Inaki Williams failed to clear a cross from the left.

As a result, Ghana is second in Group H with three points.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal will have six points and secure qualification for the last 16 if they beat Uruguay in a later start in Qatar.

Despite their efforts, South Korea is likely to be eliminated from the tournament in the group stage for the third consecutive World Cup.

The Asian team under Son Heung-min settled in faster with a series of corner kicks as they dominated possession but failed to shoot on goal throughout the first half.

Son looked uncomfortable in the black face mask he wears after undergoing surgery for a facial injury he sustained while playing for the Spurs, constantly adjusting it.

Ghana, who lost 3-2 in the first leg to Portugal, struggled to gain a foothold in the game.

But the nature of the match completely changed in the 24th minute when the impressive Jordan Ayew, playing on the left for Ghana, crossed from a free-kick.

South Korea failed to clear the ball and Southampton centre-back Salisu ended the match with a left foot, setting off wild scenes of celebration among Ghanaian fans dressed in red, white and green.

The goal revived the African nation who reached the quarter-finals in 2010 as South Korea struggled to cope with their physicality and direct approach.

Now playing with flair and confidence, Ghana rushed forward and doubled his lead in the 34th minute when Kudus landed a header from Jordan Ayew’s accurate cross from the left.

Captain Andre Ayew – Jordan’s brother – called his men to the pitch and the players were soaked with sprinklers before leaving at halftime.

The Koreans finally got their shot on goal in the 53rd minute when goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi headed Cho off the hook.

But the Korean scored just a few minutes later, inflicting a pass on substitute Lee Kang-in, who had just been brought onto the field by Bento.

And just three minutes later, they leveled when Cho kicked the ball to Kim Jin Soo from the left, causing scenes of delirium among Korean fans.

Now Ghana was rocking, but they regained their lead midway through the second half thanks to Kudus.

South Korea is back again. Sigi was forced to make a save to save a free kick while Salisu cleared the line.

The fourth referee held the board for 10 minutes of stoppage time. South Korea continued to push forward but they were unable to find the net and several of their players collapsed onto the pitch after the final whistle.

Bento was sent off for protesting at the end of the match.