WC: Uruguay defeats Ghana in penalty shots

Uruguay are through to the World Cup semifinals, after Ghana lost out twice from the penalty spot. The Netherlands surprisingly beat Brazil 2-1 in Friday's earlier match, and will face Uruguay in the semis. WC: Uruguay defeats Ghana in penalty shots Ghana suffered double disappointment from the penalty spot against Uruguay in a heart-stopping quarterfinal. Right at the end of extra time, with the score 1-1, Ghana won a penalty after Luis Suarez committed a blatant goal-line handball to prevent a Ghanaian goal. Asamoah Gyan stepped up - having already scored twice from the spot for Ghana in the competition - and blasted the ball against the crossbar. Due to this missed penalty, the match proceeded to a penalty shootout, which Uruguay won 4-2, thanks to back-to-back Ghanaian misses from John Mensah and Dominic Adiyiah. The two missed penalties were virtually identical, both hit weakly along the ground, to the left of Uruguay's keeper Fernando Muslera, but still easily within his reach. Remarkably, Asamoah Gyan managed to recover his nerves after missing moments earlier, burying Ghana's opening spot kick. Despite one miss from the spot, Uruguay were able to hold their nerves and secure a semifinal berth. Netherlands waiting in semis In a second half comeback, the Netherlands beat Brazil 2-1 in Friday's ealier fixture, even though they had struggled in the early going. Wesley Sneijder put the Dutch ahead on 68 minutes, benefiting from a deft flick-on by Dirk Kuyt off an Arjen Robben corner kick. The Netherlands' equalizer moments earlier could just as easily have been credited to Wesley Sneijder as well, rather than being a Felipe Melo own goal. The midfielder crossed from the right, and the ball drifted straight through the crowd in the penalty area, brushing Melo's head on its direct route towards goal. It was a nightmare second half for Melo, who was sent off on 73 minutes after kicking out at Netherlands star Arjen Robben. At this point, a goal down with only ten men, it already seemed that Brazil's World Cup was over.

WC: Uruguay defeats Ghana in penalty shots

Ghana suffered double disappointment from the penalty spot against Uruguay in a heart-stopping quarterfinal.

Right at the end of extra time, with the score 1-1, Ghana won a penalty after Luis Suarez committed a blatant goal-line handball to prevent a Ghanaian goal.

Asamoah Gyan stepped up - having already scored twice from the spot for Ghana in the competition - and blasted the ball against the crossbar.

Due to this missed penalty, the match proceeded to a penalty shootout, which Uruguay won 4-2, thanks to back-to-back Ghanaian misses from John Mensah and Dominic Adiyiah. The two missed penalties were virtually identical, both hit weakly along the ground, to the left of Uruguay's keeper Fernando Muslera, but still easily within his reach.

Remarkably, Asamoah Gyan managed to recover his nerves after missing moments earlier, burying Ghana's opening spot kick.

Despite one miss from the spot, Uruguay were able to hold their nerves and secure a semifinal berth.

Netherlands waiting in semis

In a second half comeback, the Netherlands beat Brazil 2-1 in Friday's ealier fixture, even though they had struggled in the early going.

Wesley Sneijder put the Dutch ahead on 68 minutes, benefiting from a deft flick-on by Dirk Kuyt off an Arjen Robben corner kick.

The Netherlands' equalizer moments earlier could just as easily have been credited to Wesley Sneijder as well, rather than being a Felipe Melo own goal. The midfielder crossed from the right, and the ball drifted straight through the crowd in the penalty area, brushing Melo's head on its direct route towards goal.

It was a nightmare second half for Melo, who was sent off on 73 minutes after kicking out at Netherlands star Arjen Robben. At this point, a goal down with only ten men, it already seemed that Brazil's World Cup was over.