Ghana’s 2010 World Cup campaign captured the attention of hundreds of millions across the world.
The Black Stars’ run to the quarter-finals was followed by fans of the team and people who were captivated by the story of the unfancied African side progressing in “Africa’s World Cup.”
The heartbreaking end was felt not just by Ghanaians and Africans but by many people across the world.
On the 10th Anniversary of the Black Stars elimination from the tournament, let’s revisit the run and the unforgettable end.
GROUP STAGES
Serbia vs Ghana (0-1)
Ghana had been placed in a tough group, along with Germany, Serbia and Australia.
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 13: A general view of Ghana’s dressing room prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group D match between Serbia and Ghana at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on June 13, 2010 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Jeff Mitchell – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
The Black Stars’ first game was against the Serbians on June 13.
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 13: Milan Jovanovic of Serbia (C) is tackled by Anthony Annan of Ghana during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group D match between Serbia and Ghana at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on June 13, 2010 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Ghana dominated the goal and despite creating many opportunities, the game remained goalless until Zdravko Kuzmanovic handled the ball, with the referee pointing to the penalty spot.
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 13: Kevin Prince Boateng of Ghana kicks the ball as Marko Pantelic of Serbia tries to block during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group D match between Serbia and Ghana at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on June 13, 2010 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Asamoah Gyan stepped up and fired into the net, giving the Black Stars a memorable start to their World Cup campaign.
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 13: Asamoah Gyan of Ghana scores a penalty past Vladimir Stojkovic of Serbia as Zdravko Kuzmanovic of Serbia looks on during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group D match between Serbia and Ghana at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on June 13, 2010 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 13: Asamoah Gyan of Ghana celebrates after scoring a penalty during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group D match between Serbia and Ghana at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on June 13, 2010 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images)
Ghana’s second match against Australia was expected to be a much more comfortable match than their previous one.
RUSTENBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 19: The Ghana team line up ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group D match between Ghana and Australia at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 19, 2010 in Rustenburg, South Africa. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)
However, Australia took an 11th-minute meeting after Brett Holman scored
RUSTENBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 19: Andre Ayew of Ghana is challenged by Brett Holman of Australia during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group D match between Ghana and Australia at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 19, 2010 in Rustenburg, South Africa. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
That lead didn’t last long as the Stars were awarded a penalty, and Australia went down to 10 men after Harry Kewell was sent off.
Asamoah Gyan stepped up yet again in the 25th minute and put the Stars ahead.
RUSTENBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 19: Referee Roberto Rosetti shows Harry Kewell of Australia a red card for handling the ball on the line during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group D match between Ghana and Australia at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 19, 2010 in Rustenburg, South Africa. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
Despite initially making the extra man count, the Black Stars lost their way and let Australia back into the game.
However, they managed to hold on for an important point.
RUSTENBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 19: Asamoah Gyan of Ghana (C#3) celebrates scoring a penalty with team mates during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group D match between Ghana and Australia at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 19, 2010 in Rustenburg, South Africa. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
This was meant to be Ghana’s toughest game in the group stages and so it proved to be.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 23: The Ghana team form a huddle during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group D match between Ghana and Germany at Soccer City Stadium on June 23, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The Black Stars were certainly not outplayed and created a number of chances to take the lead.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 23: Philipp Lahm of Germany and Jonathan Mensah of Ghana fight for the ball during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group D match between Ghana and Germany at Soccer City Stadium on June 23, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The Germans held on and created chances of their own.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 23: Thomas Mueller of Germany goes up for a challenge with John Mensah and John Pantsil of Ghana during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group D match between Ghana and Germany at Soccer City Stadium on June 23, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Germany eventually took the lead through a great strike by Mesut Ozil going through as group winners to face England.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 23: Mesut Oezil of Germany has an attempt on goal saved by Richard Kingson of Ghana during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group D match between Ghana and Germany at Soccer City Stadium on June 23, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Ghana also made it through; a match against the USA awaited.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 23: Mesut Oezil of Germany is mobbed by teammates after scoring during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group D match between Ghana and Germany at Soccer City Stadium on June 23, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Shaun Botterill – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Ghana faced the USA for the right to play Uruguay in the quarter-finals.
The Black Stars took an early lead when Kevin-Prince Boateng found the net with a powerful low drive in the first half.
RUSTENBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 26: The Ghana team pose for a group photo during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Round of Sixteen match between USA and Ghana at Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 26, 2010 in Rustenburg, South Africa. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
The USA got back into the match in the second half and won a penalty after Jonathan Mensah scythed down Clint Dempsey.
RUSTENBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 26: Clint Dempsey of the United States is brought down in the penalty area by Jonathan Mensah of Ghana during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Round of Sixteen match between USA and Ghana at Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 26, 2010 in Rustenburg, South Africa. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)
Landon Donovan stepped up and fired into the net to level things up.
RUSTENBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 26: Kevin Prince Boateng of Ghana is closed down by Ricardo Clark of the United States as he runs on to score during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Round of Sixteen match between USA and Ghana at Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 26, 2010 in Rustenburg, South Africa. (Photo by Paul Gilham – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
The match went into extra-time with Asamoah Gyan scoring his third goal of the completion after wonderfully controlling a ball over the top while holding off a defender.
The match that broke 26 million hearts in Ghana and many more across the world.
The Black Stars were hoping to become the first African country to make it into the semi-finals of the World Cup.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 02: John Pantsil of Ghana breaks up a disagreement between Isaac Vorsah (L) and Luis Suarez of Uruguay (R) during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Quarter Final match between Uruguay and Ghana at the Soccer City stadium on July 2, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
That dream looked to be on when Sulley Muntari’s long-range effort flew into Uruguay’s net in the first half.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 02: Sulley Muntari of Ghana (11) celebrates with team mates Kevin Prince Boateng (L) and Kwadwo Asamoah after he scores his side’s first goal during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Quarter Final match between Uruguay and Ghana at the Soccer City stadium on July 2, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Jeff Mitchell – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
The Uruguayans levelled 10 minutes into the second half when Diego Forlan fired in from a free-kick.
With the match looking destined for extra-time, the Black Stars piled on the pressure. They looked to have found the winner when a header by Dominic Adiyiah arrowed towards the back of the net.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 02: Sulley Muntari (#11) of Ghana celebrates scoring the opening goal with team mates during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Quarter Final match between Uruguay and Ghana at the Soccer City stadium on July 2, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
However, striker, Luis Suarez stuck out his arms and beat the ball away on the goal-line.
Suarez was sent off, with Asamoah Gyan given the opportunity, with literally the last kick of normal time, to put Ghana through.
Diego Forlan celebrates scoring his side’s first goal from a free kick with team mate Luis Suarez (L) during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Quarter Final match between Uruguay and Ghana at the Soccer City stadium on July 2, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
His effort cannoned off the bar and went over.
The match went into extra-time and then penalties, where, despite Gyan converting the first spot-kick, misses from John Mensah and Adiyiah allowed Sebastian Abreu to chip the winning penalty in.
