Ghana midfielder Kudus inspires Black Stars to 3-2 win over S. Korea

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) – Ghana midfielder Mohammed Kudus on Monday scored double, including the winning goal, as the Black Stars beat South Korea 3-2 in a 2022 FIFA World Cup Group H thriller.

The Black Stars bagged their first three points in the group, which is currently led by Portugal with the same points.

The other Group H competitors, Uruguay, who are now in the third spot, have one point before their Portugal clash on Monday evening.

The Portugal vs. Uruguay match will shape the group before the third matches.

In two games in Qatar, South Korea were handed a draw and a loss as the Asian team's last 16 hopes are diminishing.

In Monday's match, Ghana took a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute. Mohammed Salisu scored in a scramble in the area after South Korea were unable to remove the ball from danger.

The goal was valid after it was checked on VAR, short for Video Assistant Referee.

Then Jordan Ayew connected a freekick with Mohammed Kudus' head, as the Ghanaian midfielder scored to double the gap in the 34th minute.

Guesung Cho scored a quick brace in the second half, as South Korea were on a 2-2 level with Ghana with almost 30 minutes remaining to the final whistle.

But Kudus was on the score sheet again.

In the 68th minute, he scored a left-footed low shot in the area to give a 3-2 lead to Ghana. It was the winning goal for Ghana.

In the rest of the time, South Korea had to take risks. So they played more offensively but Ghana secured the victory at Doha's Education City Stadium.

After the final whistle, South Korea head coach Paulo Bento was shown a red card following a complain to the referee in a heated way.

Ghana will next play against Uruguay on Friday.

South Korea will face Portugal on the same day to complete the group stage.