FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 Season 1 Episode 58

After a first half that was so-so except for that goal out of nowhere in the last 15 seconds, the rest of the match was a classic. Both teams worked hard to score in the second half and Uruguay did so on the best free kick of the tournament. Diego Forlan's masterful shot tied up the match and both teams had chances after that.





As the 90 minutes wound down, it looked very much like penalties were inevitable until that unforgettable ending. In the dying seconds of extra time, Luis Suarez punched the ball off the goal line, earning himself a red card and the Ghanaians a penalty kick. It looked for all the world that the Africans were going through but the penalty struck the bar and went harmlessly over the net.





What followed was a series of uninspiring penalties in which Uruguay made less mistakes. It is a heartbreaking way for any team to go out of the World Cup, but it has to be doubly painful for Ghana because of the way it happened. Both teams deserved a win here, but in the knockout stages, someone has to be knocked out.





It would be nice if they could replay ties at this level, but of course with a schedule to keep, that is impossible.





Without Suarez, the Uruguayans are going to be in very, very tough against a confident Dutch team.

And so the last remaining African team is gone. It was heartbreak city for the host continent, but what can you do? The best soccer countries are not in Africa right now as evidenced by Nigeria's President banning his team from play.





Uruguay is surprising a lot of people, but I was not surprised by them winning (Alexi Lalas picked Ghana, so that meant it was a lock that Uruguay was going to win.) How much further can they go in this tournament? Who knows, but why stop believing if you are in Uruguay?





Argentina vs. Germany tomorrow should be off the hook, as the kids say.