Knock-Out Blow To Two - Day 16 Round-Up

Ah, and the real fun begins today!

There are only two games a day this week, so I'll start with the 3 o'clock kick-off. Group A winners Uruguay played Group B runners-up Korea Republic in a tie that could see a 'minnow' reach at least the semi-finals. It all really started when Diego Forlan played a brilliant ball across the box after 8 minutes, which was missed by the keeper and fell straight to Luis Suarez, who slotted the ball home to give Uruguay the lead. The game then fell quite quiet, and most possession came in the centre of the field. Both teams had chances, but Uruguay looked the most lively team. The half-time break helped the Koreans, and after 60 minutes, they finally got their breakthrough, and Lee Chung-Yong put the ball in the net for 1-1. It looked to be heading to extra time, but Suarez had other ideas, and after 80 minutes, scored arguably the best goal of the tournament so far, with a curled effort from the corner of the box. It made it 2-1, and put Uruguay through to the quarter finals for the first time since 1970. To watch the highlights, click here.

The other game today was between Group C winners USA, and Group D runners-up Ghana. Bizarre order I know, but hey, as said before Blatter is an idiot. On paper, it looked a relatively easy win for the USA, but how wrong we were. The 50th game of the tournament threw up a bit of a surprise. Kevin-Prince Boateng scored a brilliant goal for Ghana after just 5 minutes - attacking flair showed through with his run from the halfway line to slot the ball past the keeper. Top stuff. It was then all Ghana, and that's how it stayed until half time - even with USA coach Bob Bradley making an attacking substitute after just half an hour. Brave. And it bloody worked too. After 10 minutes of the restart, Landon Donovan converted a penalty, after Clint Dempsey was fouled in the box by Jonathan Mensah. Fantasy football points for Adam, and smile for 300 million people. The USA then had dominance throughout the second half, but couldn't make that pay, and the game ended up being the first of the tournament to go to extra time. It only took 3 minutes for Ghana to take a lead through Asamoah Gyan, who scored a stunning 20-yard goal to give them a massive advantage in the first half of extra time. The second half followed suit, and it was again, all Ghana. And it led to some unforgettable celebrations, and kept Africa in their own party. And with all of the continent behind them, who knows now?! Two words Africa - Waka Waka. To watch the highlights, click here.