Qatar 2022: Salisu and Kudus score as Ghana beat South Korea in a five goal thriller
A brace from Mohammed Kudus was the difference as the Black Stars recorded a 3-2 win over South Korea in their second game of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Despite a brief second-half rally from the South Koreans, Otto Addo’s side picked up all three points to keep them in the race for a Round of 16 place going in the last round of matches.
It was a must win situation for the Black Stars if they were to fancy any chances of progression in to the last 16 and they perfectly executed the mission.
After surviving the early onslaught, the Black Stars grew into the game and promptly took the lead. South Korea failed to deal with a Jordan Ayew corner and the ball fell to Mohammed Salisu who found the net.
After a nervy wait for checks on the goal by VAR Salisu and his teammates could finally celebrate their goal.
10 minutes later, the Stars doubled their lead and, yet again, Jordan Ayew was heavily involved.
His inswinging cross from the left found the head of Kudus Mohammed who slotted the ball home.
The Black Stars almost scored a third but Partey’s header failed to find the target as Ghana went into the break with a healthy lead.
The two-goal lead disappeared 13 minutes after the break in a space of three-minute with quick goals from the Koreans.
Korean striker Cho Gue-sung rose to head home twice in the 58th and 61st minutes from identical positions, to draw the two teams level.
Ghana managed to deal with the pressure for long as seven minutes after conceding the equaliser with Kudus scoring his second of the game. Inaki Williams completely missed a ball from the left but it fell at the feet of Kudus Mohammed who fired home.
There were chances for South Korea to score the next goal but Ati Zigi rose to the occasion with some decent saves as the Stars held on, despite 10 minutes of added time for their first victory of the 2022 World Cup.
Ghana now go into the game against Uruguay knowing a draw, and favourable results in the other games might well take them through to the Round of 16.
