USA vs. Ghana 2010 World Cup: World Cup Day 15 Report

Ghana and Uruguay became the first teams to book World Cup quarter-final places after beating the USA and South Korea respectively.

USA vs Ghana (Game Grade: A)

The luck had to run out sometime, didn't it? As an American fan told us after Team USA's 2-1 loss, "the D sucked today," and sadly, he was right. The US constantly struggled against the pace of the Ghanaian forward line, and Tim Howard had to pull out some top drawer saves to keep the Americans in the game. Having said that, the USA were unlucky not to get another penalty during the normal time to add to the one converted by Landon Donovan. This American team - like the side that battled its way to the top of Group C in the first round - didn't give up, and we can only hope for a stronger US team come 2014.

And how about Ghana? Asamoah Gyan's tremendous finishing in extra time proved to be the winner and a shining light in what has been a fairly big cloud for Africa football-wise (hosts South Africa, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Algeria were all dumped out in the first round), but there was much more. The defending at the end of the game was ultra-committed, and England fans can only hope for the same if they find themselves in a similar position against Germany. Having said that, the midfield still looked lost without Michael Essien, and if Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan are on form, then they'll be trouble.

Uruguay vs South Korea (Game Grade B)

Some suicidal defending from the South Koreans gifted Suarez his first goal, while there was little they could do about the Ajax striker's winner, which was curled in from a corner in a moment of sheer brilliance. The South Korean equaliser was also the result of some poor defending on behalf of the 'Boys in Blue', but this was always going to be game where mistakes would prove key - especially on a dreadful pitch and driving rain.

Uruguay is a team that plays with a great deal of confidence (as expected after winning their group), and can pass anybody out of a game. And while Forlan might look lazy, he's a brilliant set piece taker and he'll probably cause Ghana problems in the quarter-final battle.

And South Korea? If they sort out their defensive issues, which moved like a cancer from back four to goalkeeper, they will again challenge to be in the 2014 in Brazil. Bearing in mind their style of play, we hope they are.