2022 WC: We were determined to prevent Uruguay from qualifying - Amartey

Ghana centre-back Daniel Amartey says his team was determined to prevent Uruguay from reaching the World Cup knockout stages if they could not qualify themselves.

Their Group H meeting on Friday was billed as a revenge match for the Black Stars that failed to reach the last four at the 2010 finals after an infamous Luis Suarez handball in extra time which stopped a goal bound header.

The West Africans went into the rematch at Al Janoub Stadium knowing a win would see them through to the last 16 in Qatar, while a draw might also be enough

That looked enough to see the South Americans progress but after South Korea sealed a late win, Uruguay suddenly needed a third goal in second-half stoppage time to qualify on goal difference.

“I just told my team-mates that we need a goal now but they need a goal now, we have to defend for ourselves so that if we can’t go, they don’t go,” Amartey said.

Uruguay needed one goal to go through and you can see we defend four against five or three against two but we managed to defend.”