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Ghana won an exhilarating match packed with twists and turns against South Korea in front of a vibrant crowd at Education City Stadium in Qatar.
A 10-minute spell by the African nation in the first half gave them with a 2-0 lead courtesy of goals from Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu and Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus.
However, noisy celebrations by Ghana fans at half time were dampened by a South Korea comeback after the break.
Two stunning headers in three minutes from Cho Gue-sung, top-scorer in his domestic league, levelled the game after 61 minutes.
But Kudus, who had headed in Jordan Ayew’s cross in the first half, added a final twist when he thumped in a third for Ghana to break South Korea’s hearts.
Chances continued to fall South Korea’s way as they searched for another equaliser but, despite 10 minutes of added time, Ghana held on.
There were emotional scenes at the final whistle as many South Korea players fell to the ground while manager Paulo Bento was sent off for arguing with English referee Anthony Taylor for not allowing a corner to be taken despite the 10 minutes having elapsed.
In contrast, elated Ghana substitutes sprinted onto the pitch to celebrate as fans in the stand blew whistles and danced in celebration.
With Portugal to come next for South Korea, this feels a significant defeat, while Ghana – unfortunate to lose against Portugal – will face Uruguay in good spirits in their final game.
More to follow.
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South Korea
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Squad number1Player nameKim Seung-gyu
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Squad number15Player nameKim Moon-Hwan
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Squad number4Player nameKim Min-Jae
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Squad number19Player nameKim Young-Gwon
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Squad number3Player nameKim Jin-Su
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Squad number5Player nameJung Woo-Young
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Squad number6Player nameHwang In-Beom
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Squad number22Player nameKwon Chang-Hoon
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Squad number25Player nameJeong Woo-Yeong
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Squad number7Player nameSon Heung-Min
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Squad number9Player nameCho Gue-Sung
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Squad number16Player nameHwang Ui-Jo
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Squad number17Player nameNa Sang-Ho
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Squad number18Player nameLee Kang-In
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Squad number20Player nameKwon Kyung-Won
Ghana
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Squad number1Player nameAti-Zigi
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Squad number2Player nameLamptey
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Squad number18Player nameAmartey
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Squad number4Player nameSalisu
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Squad number14Player nameMensah
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Squad number5Player namePartey
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Squad number21Player nameAbdul Samed
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Squad number20Player nameKudus
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Squad number10Player nameA Ayew
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Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew
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Squad number19Player nameWilliams
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Squad number3Player nameOdoi
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Squad number8Player nameKyereh
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Squad number17Player nameBaba
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Squad number22Player nameSulemana
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Squad number23Player nameDjiku
Line-ups
South Korea
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Kim Seung-gyu
- 15Kim
- 4KimSubstituted forKwonat 90+2′minutes
- 19Kim Young-GwonBooked at 77mins
- 3Kim
- 5Jung Woo-YoungBooked at 27minsSubstituted forHwangat 79′minutes
- 6Hwang
- 22KwonSubstituted forLeeat 57′minutes
- 25JeongSubstituted forNaat 45′minutes
- 7Son Heung-Min
- 9Cho
Substitutes
- 2Yoon
- 8Paik
- 10Lee Jae-Sung
- 11Hwang Hee-Chan
- 12Song
- 13Son
- 14Hong Chul
- 16Hwang
- 17Na
- 18Lee
- 20Kwon
- 21Cho Hyun-Woo
- 23Kim
- 24Cho
- 26Song
Ghana
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Ati-Zigi
- 2LampteyBooked at 73minsSubstituted forOdoiat 78′minutes
- 18AmarteyBooked at 21mins
- 4Salisu
- 14MensahSubstituted forBabaat 88′minutes
- 5Partey
- 21Abdul Samed
- 20KudusSubstituted forDjikuat 83′minutes
- 10A AyewSubstituted forKyerehat 78′minutes
- 9J AyewSubstituted forSulemanaat 78′minutes
- 19Williams
Substitutes
- 3Odoi
- 6Owusu
- 7Fatawu
- 8Kyereh
- 11Bukari
- 12Danlad
- 13Afriyie
- 15Aidoo
- 16Nurudeen
- 17Baba
- 22Sulemana
- 23Djiku
- 24Sowah
- 25Semenyo
- 26Seidu
- Referee:
- Anthony Taylor
- Attendance:
- 43,983
Live Text
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Match ends, Korea Republic 2, Ghana 3.
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Second Half ends, Korea Republic 2, Ghana 3.
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Corner, Korea Republic. Conceded by Salis Abdul Samed.
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Attempt blocked. Kwon Kyung-Won (Korea Republic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Hwang In-Beom.
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Attempt missed. Lee Kang-In (Korea Republic) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
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Corner, Korea Republic. Conceded by Abdul Rahman Baba.
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Kwon Kyung-Won (Korea Republic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Iñaki Williams (Ghana).
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Foul by Cho Gue-Sung (Korea Republic).
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Alexander Djiku (Ghana) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Kim Jin-Su (Korea Republic) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kim Young-Gwon with a cross.
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Hwang In-Beom (Korea Republic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Kamaldeen Sulemana (Ghana).
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Corner, Korea Republic. Conceded by Lawrence Ati-Zigi.
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Attempt saved. Cho Gue-Sung (Korea Republic) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Lee Kang-In.
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Corner, Korea Republic. Conceded by Denis Odoi.
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Kwon Kyung-Won (Korea Republic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Iñaki Williams (Ghana).
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Substitution, Korea Republic. Kwon Kyung-Won replaces Kim Min-Jae.
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Attempt saved. Na Sang-Ho (Korea Republic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kim Jin-Su.
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