Ghana triumph as South Korea almost stage comeback
Ghana overcome a second-half comeback from South Korea in the second goal-heavy thriller of the day.
Ghana have been able to overcome a spirited South Korean comeback, defeating them 3-2 in what has been the most exciting day of the 2022 World cup so far.
Earlier on Monday, Cameroon and Serbia shared points in an exhilarating 3-3 draw.
Mohammed Salisu and Mohammed Kudus gave Ghana a two-nil first-half lead on Monday at Education City Stadium as they brushed aside some early pressure from South Korea.
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South Korea fought back in the second half with two almost identical headers from Cho Guesung as they threatened to cause another incredible World Cup comeback.
Early second-half changes breathed new life into South Korea’s attack, and Lee Kangin had barely been on the field for a minute when he helped dispossess Tariq Lamptey and fired in a cross that Cho attacked with pace, leaving Salisu watching as he got in front of his marker to power home a 58th-minute header.
The 24-year-old centre-forward popped up three minutes later when a chip from Kim Jinsu caught the out-of-position goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi scrambling, and Cho climbed above the centre-backs to score a dramatic equaliser.
However, Ghana could rely on Kudus again. The midfielder converted a cross from Gideon Mensah with a clinical sidefooted finish in the 68th minute.
South Korea applied some heavy pressure in the final minutes, peppering the Ghanaian goal with dangerous crosses, but they could not find a way through.
Ghana, who would have been eliminated with a defeat, finish the group stage against Uruguay on Friday, with last-16 qualification on the line as South Korea – on one point – play Portugal.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal take on the Uruguayans in the other group game later today.