Ghana 0-2 Uruguay: Luis Suarez in tears, team-mates CHASE referee after going out of the World Cup

‘Ghana are looking forward to retiring you,’ Luis Suarez was told and though it didn’t precisely work out that way, some will see a huge sense of vindication about the fact that he was left sitting in a dug out here, hands to his face, almost crying with frustration as his World Cup ended.

A cold dose of reality had seemed to destroy a beautiful form of revenge, when Ghana were awarded – and proceeded to miss – a penalty which might have compensated for the one they blew after Suarez’s deliberate handball ended their World Cup 12 years ago.

But at the death, South Korea scored the 91st minute winner which sends them through at Uruguay’s expense, dismantling Suarez’s hopes that this might be last great stand. Not really the outcome that Ghana, with huge ambition of their own, had hoped for. But it was certainly something.

Luis Suarez was left in tears after Uruguay were knocked out of the Qatar World Cup on Friday

Uruguay captain Suarez saw his side beat Ghana 2-0, knocking both out of the tournament

Many will feel vindication about the fact he was left sitting in the dugout crying his eyes out after his handball robbed Ghana of a place in the World Cup semi-final in South Africa in 2010

The echoes of 2010 were enormous when Ghana got that early penalty. 

And though their coach had shown the good grace to say of Luis Suarez’s perfect crime: ‘let it go’, your heart broke to see history repeating itself.

There’s not a day in the intervening 12 years that some in that nation have not thought of receiving another penalty kick, to compensate for the one Asamoah Gyan missed when Suarez handled on the line and eliminated them from the first World Cup on their own continent in 2010.

But Andre Ayew managed to make the most desperate job possible of dispatching it – shuffling up to the ball and finding minimal power to gift Sergio Rochet the most comfortable save imaginable. 

To say the keeper dived to his left is an exaggeration of the task in hand.

In the immediate aftermath of the save came a moment which explains why some will not be sobbing for Uruguay now. 

Their midfielder Federico Valverde, following up on the kick, placed his face in front of the referee’s and gestured his glee at the miss. The Uruguayan mentality, they call it.

Within minutes Suarez was contributing substantially to the first of the goals which made this a comfortable win for Uruguay, after a sequence of Ghanaian defensive calamities.

It was not just the way that Ayew’s brother Jordan was dispossessed, with Ghana’s left back operating high and leaving space to break into, which screamed ‘naivety.’ 

The desperate way that Alidu Seidu allowed a cross to escape him was even worse. Suarez, ‘the devil incarnate’ as he was called at Thursday’s press conference here, gratefully accepted, dispatching a shot which was spilled out to Giorgian de Arrascaeta, who dropped down to head the ball in.

Uruguay’s second befitted a World Cup – De Arrascaeta despatching a volley of great technical difficulty after Suarez had lifted the ball over the defence. 

Ghana captain Andre Ayew was handed the chance to score from the spot with a penalty

But the forward’s weak penalty was easily saved by Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet (No 23)

Giorgian De Arrascaeta (right) opened the scoring, nodding home after Suarez’ shot was saved

Former Liverpool striker Suarez celebrated the goal raucously in front of the Ghana supporters

The naïve surrender of possession was again devastating for Ghana and punctured the hope that the strong contingent of their players appearing in European leagues might create a different outcome this time. Only two of their squad are still based in Ghana.

Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus was a class apart – driving around Facundo Pellistri and driving wide of the post in the second half.

But Suarez was not quite the ageing old beast many had expected and his heart clearly still beat for this last adventure on the great stage. He was the same attack dog Ghana had always remembered – remonstrating, face to face, with the referee after the penalty was given. 

Flamengo attacking midfielder De Arrascaeta then made it 2-0 with a sweetly struck volley

News of South Korea’s turnaround against Portugal, with Hwang Hee-chan scoring in the 90th minute to give the Asian side the win and thus eliminate Uruguay, left forward Suarez in tears

He bought cheap tackles. He complained bitterly about an aerial challenge which hurt his shoulder. He expressed his views emphatically when booked for dissent on the hour.

It was all too much for Ghana. The missed penalty, awarded for Rochet’s connection on Kudus as he advanced towards him, left them winded but they struggled to get any imprint on the game.

Uruguay would have gone ahead before they did without Mohammed Salisu racing back to hook a ball from the goal-line after Darwin Nunez broke clear and chipped the ball over the advancing Lawrence Ati-Zigi.

Angry Uruguay players then confronted ref Daniel Siebert after the game in disgraceful scenes

Former Manchester United striker Cavani was booked for his part in the furious remonstrations

This resilience proved significant. South Korea’s goal left Uruguay with eight minutes to get another or leave. A Maxi Gomez 20-yard shot in injury time was palmed away by Ati-Zigi.

When it was over, Suarez covered his head with his jersey and his body heaved with his sobbing. 

His team-mates surrounded the officials to protest a penalty denied them late on. The referee decided that hurrying away was advisable. Another reason why many will consider this a vindication of sorts. 

Missed any of the action? Catch up with Sportsmail’s live blog for the dramatic and controversial World Cup Group H clash between Ghana and Uruguay, with coverage from MAX MATHEWS.