Mohammed Kudus said determination wasn't overmuch quality betwixt the mode Ghana played successful its opening World Cup lucifer against Portugal oregon its 2nd crippled against South Korea.
Except the result, of course.
Kudus scored twice, including the go-ahead extremity aft the South Koreans evened the lucifer successful the 2nd half, and Ghana staved disconnected elimination with a 3-2 victory, successful a lucifer that saw South Korea's manager red-carded.
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Mohammed Salisu besides scored for the Black Stars, who were disappointed aft a adjacent 3-2 opening nonaccomplishment to Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal and were successful request of points against South Korea for a accidental to scope the knockout circular successful Qatar.
"I deliberation the crippled against Portugal was 1 of the champion games you tin have. The vigor and the committedness from the full squad was good. So we approached this crippled the aforesaid way," Kudus said. "We person the aforesaid mentality crippled aft crippled aft game, truthful we are going successful the aforesaid absorption with the aforesaid vigor nary substance who we play."
Down 2-0, Cho Gue-sung scored some of South Korea's goals astir 3 minutes isolated aboriginal successful the 2nd fractional to adjacent the crippled astatine 2-2.
But Kudus' debased left-footed extremity successful the 68th infinitesimal sailed retired of the scope of goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu to springiness the Black Stars backmost the lead. Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi preserved the triumph with a leaping prevention disconnected Cho's effort successful stoppage time.
"We conceded goals a spot aboriginal successful the game, and that forced america to play a chasing-style crippled that wasn't easy. After the archetypal half, we vowed to support trying until the end," Cho said. "We ne'er gave up and yet caught up (to them), but the past extremity we conceded was regrettable. We kept pounding for an equaliser but couldn't interruption through."
South Korea guardant Son Heung-min remained without a extremity successful Qatar. The Tottenham guardant wore a disguise to support a breached near oculus socket helium sustained successful a Champions League crippled against Marseille earlier this month.
South Korea manager Paulo Bento was handed a reddish paper successful the moments pursuing the lucifer aft a heated speech with English referee Anthony Taylor. The Portuguese manager was furious erstwhile South Korea won a country astatine the extremity of 10 minutes of stoppage clip but the whistle was blown earlier it could beryllium taken.
The reddish paper means that Bento volition not beryllium connected the sideline for South Korea's last lucifer against Portugal connected Friday.
Assistant manager Sergio Costa said "the effect astatine the extremity was wholly unfair" and added that helium did not perceive Bento accidental thing "inappropriate."
South Korea played to a 0-0 gully successful its opener with Uruguay. The squad was making its sixth consecutive World Cup appearance.
But present the South Koreans are successful information of elimination. Costa suggested the choler of Bento would unite the team.
"Count connected america for the adjacent match," helium said.
Ghana became the 3rd African federation to marque it to the World Cup 4th finals astatine the 2010 tournament. Black Stars skipper Andre Ayew was besides connected that squad. No African squad has reached the World Cup semi finals.
Known for its controlled possession, South Korea dominated the archetypal 20 minutes. Ghana broke done successful the 24th erstwhile Salisu scored successful a scramble successful beforehand of the nett disconnected a escaped kick. After a spirited solemnisation encircled by his teammates, Salisu nervously crouched connected the tract portion the extremity was confirmed by video review.
Kudus, a 22-year-old midfielder for Ajax, doubled the pb with a header disconnected a agelong transverse from Jordan Ayew, contempt the hopeless efforts of defender Kim Jin-su.
Cho did a genu descent successful beforehand of South Korea's seat and was dogpiled by his teammates aft his archetypal extremity successful the 58th minute. His 2nd came successful the 61st.
Now Ghana turns to its Group H finale connected Saturday greeting against Uruguay.
"It feels good, but it feels adjacent amended due to the fact that we got the full 3 points. That was the astir important thing," Kudus said. "The full squad played their portion and I deliberation the vigor is precise bully present successful Ghana and it's a bully boost for our adjacent game."
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