Mohamed Quddus scored twice as Ghana beat South Korea 3-2 in a dramatic and tense World Cup Group H game on Monday to stay in contention for a place in the next round.
Ghana led 2-0 at the break but allowed South Korea to claw their way back into the match when Cho Gae-sung scored twice in three minutes to level the score at 2-2, only for Kudus to give Ghana victory in a thrilling contest.
Ghana, who lost their opening group game to Portugal 3-2, have three points in the group, while Korea have one after two games.
Ghana fended off early pressure from the Koreans to take a 2-0 lead when centre-back Mohamed Salisu scored in the 24th minute, followed 10 minutes later by Mohamed Qudus’ sharp header.
Both were on the end of excellent deliveries from Jordan Ayew, restored to the starting line-up, as Ghana fielded a much more attacking line-up than against Portugal.
Ayew’s perfectly timed free-kick sent the Korean defense into disarray and Salisu turned sharply to create an opening as the ball wobbled around. It took a long time for VAR to check the authenticity of the goal before English referee Anthony Taylor confirmed it.
Ayew again provided a fierce delivery, with the right height and pace for Kudus to head home to double the Black Stars’ lead.
Early changes in the second half breathed new life into Korea’s attack and Lee Kang-in was barely on the pitch before he helped set up Tariq Lamptey and fired in a cross which Cho quickly pounced on, leaving Salis to watch as he stepped in front of his marker to score a header in the 58th minute.
The 24-year-old centre-forward was even more emphatic when a chip from Kim Jin-soo caught goalkeeper Lawrence Atti-Zigi out of position and Cho rose above the centre-backs to score a dramatic equalizer right in front of a bank of screaming Korean fans.
Ghana, who would have crashed out of the World Cup if they had lost, looked vulnerable but a sloppy Korean defense got an unexpected lifeline in the 68th minute.
Gideon Mensah was allowed to complete a cross from the left which Inaki Williams missed, but the ball fell to Kufus to slot in with his left foot – all while the Korean back line failed to attack the ball.
A lucky turn for the Black Stars was followed by Ati-Ziggy making a fine save from Lee’s free-kick to watch the ball cleared off the line after Kim Jin-soo’s scuffed shot.
Ghana continued to live dangerously 10 minutes into stoppage time when Korea besieged their own goal but were unable to equalize again.
