Luis Suarez’s double for Uruguay against South Korea rightly dominates the headlines today. His second goal was a masterpiece and is without doubt the goal of the tournament so far.

But let’s not ignore Ghana’s victory over the USA. Ghana were the only African nation left in the competition and they remain there thanks to Gyan’s extra time winner, becoming only the third African team to reach the quarter finals after Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002.

It was too close to call between the USA and Ghana before the match but as soon as it kicked off it was all Ghana as they overpowered their opponents in midfield and up front, scoring as early as the 5th minute through Kevin-Prince Boateng. The whole of the first half was dominated by the Black Stars, the USA finding no answer to the power of the Africans.

It got so bad that, with only 30 minutes gone, Bob Bradley decided to substitute Ricardo Clark (who was at fault for Ghana’s opener) and replace him with Edu. The USA still struggled to retain possession and were grateful to be only one goal down at half time.

Bizarrely, the dominance of Ghana from the first half was absent in the second and the USA began to get a foothold in the game, strengthened by Landon Donovan’s equaliser from the penalty spot on 62 minutes. Jonathan Mensah brought down a determined Clint Dempsey in the box leaving the referee with no option but to award the spot kick, which Donovan put in off the post.

Neither side could find a winner in normal time and when extra time began Ghana seemed to have re-found their belief and desire. It was duly rewarded with Gyan’s goal just three minutes into the extra period and, despite a late surge by the USA, they held on to qualify for the quarter finals.

The better match of the day, however, was that between Uruguay and South Korea. Were it not for Luis Suarez we would now have South Korea in the quarter finals, I’m sure. Once Suarez had scored after just eight minutes almost all the attacking threat came from South Korea, as Uruguay camped in their own half.

It was a surprising way for the South Americans to act, but they clearly felt they could hold out for the remaining 82 minutes. As it turned out they couldn’t. Lee Chung-Yong nodded home a poor clearance to equalise. Uruguay were stung into action and, with only 10 minutes left scored through Suarez again.

The goal, as I’ve said, was the best in the tournament so far and deserved to win any game.

This report is a little late…England have already crashed out 4-1 to Germany and Argentina have beaten Mexico 3-1. But more on that morning when this blogger has had time to reflect on a disastrous tournament for his home nation…