Kudus scores twice as Ghana outlast South Korea in dramatic game
Full Time South Korea 2 Ghana 3
16:02 CET: Another quite incredible game of football on this manic of Mondays at the World Cup. It's all kicking off after the final whistle, with South Korea players and management furious with Anthony Taylor for not allowing them to take a last-second corner. The referee has sent off Paulo Bento - South Korea manager - for dissent after the whistle as he gave both barrels to the Englishman.
At the end of it, Ghana's defence in the final 15 minutes has won them this game, but Mohammed Kudus, who scored twice, must take the headlines. At the other end, Cho Gue-Sung was superb, scoring twice in three minutes with his head.
So much to unpick from this game, and you can do all of that with our full report, written by Ben Sully. Also check out our match stats, which show just what a magical match this was.
Second Half
100': We're into the 100th minute and Ghana just keep heading the ball away. Heroic rearguard action here.
99': Into the last minute and still Ghana hold firm.
97': It's all out attack from South Korea, they have five players in the box for a cross that Ati-Zigi manages to clear, but he is fouled in the process. Some breathing space for Ghana.
94': CHO! Great save from Ati-Zigi! The striker, on a hat-trick, fires fiercely on target but the Ghana goalkeeper gets it away. Two more set plays are then cleared by Ghana as they edge towards a precious victory.
92': A final roll of the dice for the South Koreans as Kim Min-Jae has been taken off in favour od Kwon Kyung-Won. They are attacking in waves now, but Ghana are up to the task so far.
90': South Korea are on the attack. Two corners in a row, but they can't make them count. We will have 10, yes 10, minutes of added time.
88': Some cramp for Gideon Mensah, Ghana's left back. It's been a fast-paced second half, so no surprises some players are struggling out there. That will be the end of his game, Abdul-Rahman Baba is on in his place for the final few minutes.
85': Chance for South Korea! Kim Jin-Su fires a left footed shot at goal but it whistles over the bar. Five minutes left of the 90.
83': A throw-in for South Korea turns into a breakaway for Ghana and Inaki Williams travels 60 metres with the ball. The defence just about deal with it, but concede a corner in the process. Mohammed Kudus, the match winner as it stands comes off for defender Alexander Djiku. The corner comes to nothing.
78': With 12 minutes left in the 90, Ghana make their first changes, both Ayews are replaces as is Tariq Lamptey for Denis Odoi, Daniel-Kofi Kyereh and Kamaldeen Sulemana. South Korea also make a substitute. The bring on Hwang Ui-Jo for Jung Woo-Young as they search for an equaliser.
76': OFF THE LINE! South Korea think they have scored after the keeper is beaten but Ghana's defence gets back and clears it off the line. Heroic work from Salisu, but Ghana are living dangerously.
75': The resulting free kick is struck well and turned round the post by Ati-Zigi, who has to be at full stretch.
73': A quite incredible game developing here. Son is fouled by Lamptey and picks up a yellow card.
68': OH MY! GHANA BACK IN FRONT THROUGH KUDUS!
Ghana are not done! Mohammed Kudus scores his second of the game to give his side the lead. We thought we had a game of the tournament contender between Cameroon and Serbia, this is turning into another just hours later. Incredible scenes.
64': We are in for another incredible finish at the World Cup, the momentum has totally swung and it's all because of Cho Gue-Sung, who is now on a hat-trick. There is a break in play and the Ghana players are having quite an aggressive debrief in the centre circle. This did not look on the cards at the end of the first half, but we are having a remarkable day at the World Cup.
61': HERE WE GO AGAIN! CHO AGAIN, IT'S 2-2!
This World Cup is having a mad day! For the third time in two games, we have a comeback with two quick goals. Cho is at it again, a cross from the left finds the striker and his run and jump are perfect, the header is sublime. The South Koreans in the crowd are in raptures!
58': SOUTH KOREA HAVE A GOAL BACK THROUGH CHO GUE-SUNG
Ghana had a warning. Just minutes after his first chance, Cho converts a cross from the left with a header. South Korea's first goal of the tournament and it couldn't have come any sooner!
57': Second change for South Korea as Kwon Chang-Hoon is replaced by Mallorca midfielder Lee Kang-In.
54': With South Korea looking for goals, it gives Ghana the opportunity to break. Andre Ayew does this but can't find a teammate. It forces a corner that a South Korean heads onto the roof of his net. The next is cleared and South Korea have possession once more.
53': Finally, South Korea have a shot on target. A lovely cross from the left finds Cho Gue-Sung and his header is well-placed but Lawrence Ati-Zigi is equal to dive across and make the save. Will this be the kickstart South Korea need?
50': Tariq Lamptey, who has impressed in right back spot, wriggles free inside the box, but his left-footed shot bends over the bar. First half chance of the second half.
48': A quick stat from Opta: South Korea are the only team left in the tournament to not register a single shot on target.
46': Back under way between South Korea and Ghana. Paulo Bento has made a change at the break with Jeong Woo-Yeong coming off for Na Sang-Ho.
Half Time
14:55 CET: Two goals define our momentum graphic at the break. Other than that South Korea have had the ball, yet threatened rarely.
14:50 CET: So a two-goal lead for Ghana at half-time - they have been clinical in front of goal and superb in defence. Back to the drawing board for South Korea at the break.
First Half
49': Ghana doing their best to get to the break unscathed. A superb half for them - they will be confident of hanging on to their lead in the second period.
45': Five minutes of stoppage time at the end of the half. South Korea's Jung Woo-Young tries his luck from the edge of the box, but his shot curls high and wide.
44': Son drives forward on the left flank, but is crowded out by two Ghana players. The South Korea talisman has struggled to make an impact so far.
40': There are some glum-looking South Korea fans in the stands, and their side have an almighty job on their hands to get back into this one. A cross from the left tries to pick out Son, but it falls just short. Some small, encouraging signs for the Koreans.
35': GHANA DOUBLE THEIR LEAD! IT'S KUDUS!
Double delight for the Black Stars! A superb ball from Jordan Ayew find Mohammed Kudus and his header is precise, finding the bottom corner to give Ghana a great buffer 10 minutes before half-time.
31': The goal has certainly settled Ghana down, and they are having their best spell of possession of the first half. What can South Korea do to change the momentum?
27': HOLD ON! VAR CHECK FOR HANDBALL, GOAL STANDS
The correct decision in the end as the ball did strike Andre Ayew's arm in the build-up to the goal, but there was very little he could do to get out of the way of it.
24': GOAL FOR GHANA! MOHAMMED SALISU!
A free kick is not cleared by South Korea and in the melee Southampton's Salisu is quicket to react and scores from close range.
23': We have yet to see Ghana really get forward in this game, Lamptey tries to lift a cross into the box, but can't find a target.
21': First card of the game is dished out to Daniel Armatey for a flailing arm - a correct call from the referee.
18': Two more corners for South Korea that causes a bit of a problem for Ghana, but they work it clear. Then Son tries an acrobatic bicycle kick that fails to connect with the ball. Sums up the first 20 minutes or so. Nothing has caught fire yet.
12': Already five corners in the game for South Korea, who are showing some early intent. They are yet to really test Ghana though.
8': That corner breaks to the edge of the for Jeong Woo-Yeong and is deflected behind. Some good pressure from South Korea early on.
6: A foul from Tariq Lamptey on Son Heung-Min draws a foul and pretty good chance for South Korea to test the Ghana backline from a free kick. Ghana have the height advantage so South Korea try a training ground routine that earns them a corner.
3': A tough act to follow for Ghana and South Korea after the opening game of the day brought us six goals, but if there is a man on the pitch who has history in this fixture it is Jordan Ayew. He scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 friendly win for Ghana over today's opponents back in 2014.
1': We are a go in Education City Stadium. The referee for this game is Anthony Taylor.
Pre-match
13:53 CET: After the chaos of the first game, can this match live up to it? We are minutes away from finding out as both teams emerge onto the pitch. Time for the formalities before we begin.
Team News
South Korea’s key defender Kim Min-Jae passed a late fitness and was included in his country’s line-up for their World Cup Group H clash against Ghana at the Education City Stadium on Monday.
The Napoli centre back had been doubtful due to a calf injury and coach Paulo Bento said he would check Kim's status at the last minute before making the call on his availability.
Bento made three changes to his side and Ghana did the same as they reshuffled their defence and brought in Jordan Ayew upfront in a more attacking 4-3-3 line-up after fielding three central defenders against Portugal last week.
Tariq Lamptey and Gideon Mensah start in a new full-back pairing and central defender Alexander Djiku was dropped.
Ghana: Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Tariq Lamptey, Daniel Amartey, Mohammed Salisu, Gideon Mensah, Thomas Partey, Salis Abdul Samed, Mohammed Kudus, Andre Ayew, Jordan Ayew, Inaki Williams
South Korea: Kim Seung-Gyu, Kim Moon-Hwan, Kim Min-Jae, Kim Young-Gwon, Kim Jin-Su, Jung Woo-Young, Kwon Chang-Hoon, Jeong Woo-Yeong, Hwang In-Beom, Son Heung-Min, Cho Gue-Sung.
Introduction
Old friendships will be reunited as Ghana take on South Korea in the second of four games on Monday. Ghana coach Otto Addo was part of the Hamburg set-up when South Korean star Son Heung-Min signed for the club at 16.
The German-born Ghanaian coach was in charge of the Under-19s at Hamburg when Son arrived in 2009 and the teenager made a quick impression.
"I really liked his character, he was a very hard-working player. I was the one who proposed him to the first team," said Addo on Sunday.
It will be a real contest on the pitch though and we will bring you all the action here as well with our audio commentary, which you can listen to from 13:55 CET.
