KEIR RADNEDGE in DOHA —- No football nation on earth compares with Uruguay. For more than 90 years they were the smallest country ever to play host to the World Cup. Then along came Qatar where the Celeste suddenly found themselves playing for pride and survival.

Not only all of this but Uruguay’s mission was threatened by vengeance-seeking Ghana whom they had defeated on an unforgettable night for all of us present in Soccer City, Johannesburg, in 2010.

Ghana, this time in the Al Janoub Stadium in Doha, apparently held the initiative. They were second in Group H behind already-qualified Portugal. Uruguay needing victory to have even a chance of overtaking to avoid a long flight back home and renewed questions about their prowess out in the real world of today’s international football.

In fact that sad exit was the destiny for both of them even Uruguay despite the Celeste winning 2-0 after Ghana had missed an early penalty. South Korea’s snatching of a late winner against Portugal in the other match edged Uruguay out of second place on goals scored.

In the 1920s Uruguay had stunned European football with the brilliance of Olympic gold medal success in 1924 and 1928. Then they hosted and won the inaugural World Cup. They stayed away from the 1934 and 1938 finals, won again in legendary style in Brazil in 1950 and thus did lose a World Cup tie until the 1954 semi-final. Their 4-2 extra-time defeat by Hungary was hailed as “the greatest football match of all time.”

How times change. Now it was not about success but survival.

The drama erupted as early as the 15^th minute. Keeper Sergio Rochet parried a cross shot from Jordan Ayew but then took the man not the ball as Mohammed Kudus followed up.

German referee Daniel Siebert awarded a penalty after being directed to the screen. Cue angry Uruguayan protests before Rochet dived to his left to save Andre Ayew’s weak spot kick.

Two-goal response

Uruguay responded with controlled anger and Darwin Nunez had a shot cleared out of the goal area by Salisu. Ghana did not heed the warning. In the 26^th minute Luis Suarez – hero or villain in 2010 depending on standpoint – had a shot only smothered by keeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi and Giorgian De Arrascaeta dived forward to head into the back of the net.

Six more minutes and De Arrascaeta, who plays his club football in Brazil with Flamengo, struck again. This time he fired a superb angled volley on a Suarez assist. The Ghanaians stood as if shell-shocked.

Uruguay held their lead comfortably to the interval when Ghana replaced Jordan and Andre Ayew, raised the tempo and began to pull their game together.

This risked playing into Uruguay’s hands and, indeed, Facundo Pellistri should have scored on the break only to blast his shot narrowly wide. Then Zigi was nearly caught out by a low drive from Federico Valverde.

At this point Uruguay were going through.

Still, as long as the gap was only two goals, Ghana could hope. In the 75th minute Antoine Semenyo lashed an acute-angled drive across the face of goal then Rochet dived right to tip a drive around his right-hand post. Now, Ghana believed again. Uruguay massed in and around their penalty box and tackled for all they were worth.

Then came the thunderbolt news from across the city: South Korea had taken the lead against Portugal.

Uruguay, for all of a mighty effort redoubled in eight minutes of stoppage time, were out . . . taking Ghana with them.

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