Uruguay v Ghana · World Cup quarter-final · 2010
The Hand of Suárez
The Hand of Suárez is the moment in the last minute of extra time of the 2010 World Cup quarter-final when Uruguay's Luis Suárez punched Ghana's goal-bound header off the line. He was sent off, Ghana missed the penalty, and Uruguay won the shoot-out. It remains one of the most debated moments in World Cup history.
A continent behind Ghana
The 2010 World Cup was the first held in Africa, and by the quarter-finals Ghana were the continent's last team standing. No African side had ever reached a World Cup semi-final; Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002 had fallen in the quarter-finals. At Soccer City in Johannesburg, the crowd was firmly behind the Black Stars.
Sulley Muntari gave Ghana the lead with a long-range strike just before half-time. Diego Forlán equalised with a dipping free kick ten minutes after the break, and the match went to extra time.
The last minute
With penalties moments away, Ghana won a free kick wide on the right. The ball was swung into a crowded box. Suárez, standing on the goal line, blocked one shot with his knee; Dominic Adiyiah then headed the rebound towards the empty net, and Suárez stopped it with both hands. The referee showed him a straight red card and pointed to the spot.
Asamoah Gyan, who had already scored penalties at that World Cup, stepped up with the chance to send Ghana into the semi-finals. His kick struck the crossbar and flew over. Suárez, walking off, was filmed celebrating on the edge of the tunnel.
The shoot-out
Gyan bravely scored Ghana's first penalty in the shoot-out, but Fernando Muslera saved from John Mensah and Adiyiah. Sebastián Abreu, nicknamed "El Loco", chipped the winning kick down the middle. Uruguay reached their first World Cup semi-final since 1970, where they lost 3-2 to the Netherlands.
Hero or villain?
In Uruguay, Suárez's handball was a sacrifice for his country; across Africa it felt like a theft. Both views are true to the people who hold them, which is exactly why the moment is still argued about more than a decade later. It belongs with football's great moral dilemmas, alongside Michael Ballack's tactical foul in 2002 and Zidane's headbutt in 2006.
Frame the moment
Our framed poster The Hand of Suárez tells the story in posterised artwork with the fixture, venue and date. Choose A4 or A3, framed and ready to hang, with free shipping across India. See more in our World Cup posters.
Quick answers
What happened in the Hand of Suárez?
In the 120th minute of the 2010 World Cup quarter-final, Luis Suárez handled Dominic Adiyiah's header on the goal line. He was sent off, Asamoah Gyan missed the penalty, and Uruguay won 4-2 on penalties.
Who won Uruguay v Ghana in 2010?
Uruguay, 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Did Asamoah Gyan miss the penalty?
Yes, his kick hit the crossbar in the last minute of extra time. He then scored his penalty in the shoot-out.
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