AL-WAKRAH, Qatar: This time, Luis Suarez cried on the sidelines after Uruguay were eliminated from the World Cup despite a 2-0 win over Ghana on Friday.
The result also put Ghana out of the competition.
Suarez played a key role in both first-half goals scored by Giorgian De Arrascaeta and Uruguay appeared headed for the round of 16 after inflicting more pain on Ghana 12 years after their now-infamous meeting in the quarterfinals at the World Cup in South Africa.
Then, Suarez denied Ghana a winning goal with a deliberate handball on the goal-line and having been sent off, he celebrated wildly on the sidelines when Ghana missed the resultant penalty.
Uruguay were in a position to go through in Qatar until South Korea’s late goal gave it a 2-1 win over Portugal in the other Group H game. That meant Uruguay needed to score one more goal in the dying minutes of its game to qualify.
They didn’t and were eliminated because they had scored fewer goals than South Korea in the group stage. Suarez was distraught on the sidelines and covered his face with his shirt having been substituted in what was likely his last World Cup appearance.
Uruguay’s goals came in a six-minute spell soon after Ghana raised more memories of the 2010 quarterfinal by missing a penalty.
A Suarez shot led to De Arrascaeta’s opener and Suarez set up the second with a clever pass that De Arrascaeta volleyed in. After those two strikes, Uruguay thought it was on its way to the knockouts.
Ghana captain Andre Ayew, the team’s only survivor from the 2010 squad, had his penalty saved by Sergio Rochet in the 21st minute and the game changed immediately after that. De Arrascaeta scored in the 26th and 32nd minutes to crush Ghana hopes.
But the Uruguayans were ultimately also crushed.
Suarez had been substituted when the screen at Al-Janoub Stadium suddenly flashed that South Korea was in second place in the group after a late goal against Portugal.
Uruguay surged forward in search of the goal that would have put it through. Substitutes Maximiliano Gomez and Sebastian Coates both missed late chances and Suarez was crying after the final whistle.
Uruguay beats Ghana 2-0 at World Cup but both teams out
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Uruguay beats Ghana 2-0 at World Cup but both teams out
- Suarez was distraught on the sidelines and covered his face
- Suarez had been substituted when the screen at Al-Janoub Stadium suddenly flashed that South Korea was in second place
Svitolina says mental health break fueled her run to first Australian Open semifinal
- The 31-year-old Ukrainian swept aside French Open champion Coco Gauff 6-1 6-2
- Svitolina, the 12th seed, reached the last four at Melbourne Park for the first time
MELBOURNE: Elina Svitolina credited her first-ever Australian Open semifinal run to the mental health break she took at the end of last season — a move she believes rejuvenated her.
The 31-year-old Ukrainian swept aside French Open champion Coco Gauff 6-1 6-2 in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, ending the American third seed’s bid for a third Grand Slam title.
Svitolina, the 12th seed, reached the last four at Melbourne Park for the first time after three quarter-final appearances, keeping alive her hopes of a maiden major title.
“It was difficult decision in one hand, but then I spoke with my team and family,” Svitolina told reporters. “If I would keep pushing last year, I think I would not start here. I would be exhausted, and even not sure if I would be injury-free.
“So for me it was important to just step back, and I’m very happy that I did that. Of course, now it’s easy to say because the results have been great ... but I still think it’s something that helped me.” Svitolina won the Auckland Open this month, her 19th WTA title, after ending her 2025 season early to focus on her mental health.
Asked whether she surprised herself with how quickly she rediscovered her form, Svitolina said: “I tried to trust myself ... When I’m fresh, when I’m mentally ready to face difficult situations, then I can play well.”
Svitolina next faces Belarusian top seed Aryna Sabalenka, against whom she holds a 1-5 losing record.
“It’s no secret she’s a very powerful player,” Svitolina said. “The power in all parts of her game is her strength. I think she’s very consistent for the past years with everything that she does on the court. I’ll have to be ready for that, try to find the ways and the little holes, little opportunities in her game.”
