Hero at home, 'El Diablo' or The Devil in Ghana.
It was the quarterfinal clash between Uruguay and Ghana at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The scores were level at 1-1, with Sulley Muntari putting the African nation ahead with a long-range strike and skipper Diego Forlán equalising from a free-kick.
The match was approaching the final seconds of extra-time. For a moment Ghana thought they had made history when Dominic Adiyah headed the ball towards the goal, with Uruguayuan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera out of position. But, it was not to be. Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez punched the ball away, denying a certain goal and also Ghana's chance to become the first African team to make the semifinal in World Cup history.
What followed was even more dramatic. Suarez was red-carded, and Ghanian striker Asamoah Gyan stepped up to take another shot at making history. In a cruel twist of fate, his strike hit the post and went out of play, sending Ghanians into despair and the Uruguayans (and Suarez from the sidelines) into rapture.
The match went into penalties, where Uruguay prevailed.
While Suarez was hailed in his country for his “sacrifice”, he was called a cheat and a devil in Ghana and other African countries.
Cut to Uruguay vs Ghana at Qatar 2022
Ghana have the chance to take revenge when they take on Uruguay in their last group stage match tonight. A win or even a draw would put the African nation in the round of 16. Unless, South Korea pull off a miraculous win against Portugal (who have already qualified), and that too, by a two-goal margin or more.
Suarez has spiced it up already. “I don’t say I apologise about that because I take the handball but the Ghana player missed the penalty, not me,” he told the media yesterday.
Ghana coach Otto Addo, however, downplayed the controversial moment, and its effect on today's match. "It's all about perspective. If the same incident would have happened the other way around and Ghana would proceed to the semifinals, everybody would say OK, it's normal that a player will do anything he can," he said."This is what I wish from every player, to do all he can to help his team qualify to serve and sometimes sacrificing himself with a red card."