体坛英语新闻：Ghana, Uruguay reach World Cup quarters

RUSTENBURG, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Ghana beat the United States on Asamoah Gyan's 93rd minute winner in Rustenburg on Saturday to join Uruguay in the World Cup quarterfinals.

Gyan scored an extra time goal to nail the Black Star's 2-1 victory while Luis Suarez struck twice to put Uruguay 2-1 through South Korea in Port Elizabeth.

Gyan, who had converted two group stage penalty shots, won an aerial challenge with Ashley Cole and kept his balance to blast home three minutes into extra time.

For the rest of extra time, the United States pressed hard and created numerous chances, which were either ruined by Ghana keeper Richard Kingson or the Americans' inability to finish the attack.

Players of Ghana celebrate their victory after the 2010 World Cup round of 16 soccer match against the United States at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, South Africa, on June 26, 2010. Ghana won 2-1 and qualifies for the round of 8.

"I am the happiest man in the world," Gyan exclaimed after the final whistle.

"In 2006 we made the second round, now we have gone a step further. We have made Ghana proud and the whole of Africa proud."

The Black Star controlled the first half and the speedy Americans held an upper hand in the second.

Kevin-Prince Boateng put Ghana ahead in the fifth minute and Landon Donovan pulled the Americans back on the same footing with an half-time penalty kick.

U.S. midfielder Ricardo Clark lost the possession on the halfway line and Kevin-Prince Boateng took the loose ball and stormed down the middle, jinking from two defenders to get to the edge of the box, where he struck a low left-foot shot into the bottom corner.

The fully-stretched Tim Howard could have blocked it if his right hand were half meter longer.

The Americans could have leveled on 34 minutes when Robbie Findley was beautifully played in down by Clint Dempsey, but Findley didn't get enough strike on the ball from 15 meters and Kingson blocked it with his left leg.

The Ghana replied with an even bigger threat as Kwadwo Asamoah, who raced down to shake off two defenders, forced a superb save from Howard.

One minute into the second half, the Americans squandered a wonderful chance as Jozy Altidore hesitated in the area and had to pass to Benny Felihaber, who hit the ball into the arms of an onrushing Kingson.