South Korea 2-3 Ghana: Kudus on the double as Black Stars back in the mix
A goal from Mohammed Salisu and a Mohammed Kudus double helped Ghana edge South Korea 3-2 at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan on Monday and bolstered Otto Addo side’s hopes of progressing from Group H of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
After a brief spell of South Korean dominance, Ghana went 2-0 up with goals from Salisu and Kudus. But Cho Gue-Sung came off the bench to score twice in the second half to draw Paulo Bento’s side level before Kudus netted his second to seal the win for his country.
The win gives Ghana three points from two matches in Group H while South Korea sit bottom with one point and a mountain to climb against Portugal in their final group stage fixture on Friday.
It was all South Korea in the opening exchanges of the Group H encounter in Al Rayyan as Bento’s side forced seven corners out of the Ghanaian defence within 17 minutes of kick off – albeit without much quality or success.
And they were made to pay for their profligacy as Ghana went ahead against the run of play. With 24 minutes on the clock, Southampton’s Salisu was the quickest to react after the Koreans failed to clear a free-kick from Jordan Ayew, becoming the first defender ever to score for his country at a World Cup.
South Korea looked for respite as the VAR checked for a possible handball from Andre Ayew in the build-up to that opener. Instead, they had more salt rubbed into their wounds as the Africans doubled their advantage 10 minutes later.
The South Korean defence, marshalled by Napoli’s Kim Min-jae, once again failed to deal with an aerial delivery from Jordan and this time, it was Kudus who arrived at the far post to head home Ghana’s second of the evening.
The goals gave the Black Stars plenty of confidence as they kept South Korea at bay for the remainder of the half. Bento responded by bringing on 26-year-old striker Na Sang-ho in place of Freiburg midfielder Jeong Woo-yeong at the break.
The Taegeuk Warriors began the second period better with 2022 K League 1 top scorer Cho Gue-Sung recording his team’s first shot on target at this World Cup in the 53rd minute.
South Korea’s attack was further bolstered by the introduction of Real Mallorca youngster Lee Kang-in in the 57th minute and it was from his cross that Cho reduced the deficit in the very next minute.
Cho then found his second three minutes later heading home a cross from Kim Jin-su as two goals in quick succession had South Koreans back in the ascendancy.
However, there was twist in the tale as Kudus had another goal in him. Inaki Williams failed to connect with a cross into the box from left-back Gideon Mensah in the 68th minute, but Kudus’s low drive beat Kim Seung-gyu in the Korean goal.
Kim Jin-su’s effort was cleared off the line in the 77th minute before Lawrence Ati-Zigi denied Cho a hat-trick with save from close range in the fourth minute of the second half injury time to ensure all three points for the Black Stars.
South Korea will now need to defeat Portugal in their final group fixture on Friday in order to stand a chance to progress to the Round of 16, while Ghana face Uruguay in the other game of the day at Al Wakrah.
