Today in history: The day Suarez and Gyan broke Ghanaians hearts

On 2nd July, 2010, Ghana nearly defied expectations to become the first African team to reach the World Cup semi-finals but, after being awarded a penalty with the score at 1-1, Asamoah Gyan hit the bar from the spot with the last kick of extra-time. Agonisingly for an entire continent, Ghana then lost a penalty shoot-out 4-2.

Sulley Muntari, almost kicked out of the squad after criticising coach Milovan Rajevac earlier in the competition, struck a long-range opener on the stroke of half-time, while the impressive Diego Forlan equalised with a free-kick 10 minutes after the restart.

Kevin-Prince Boateng missed a close-range header right at the end of the game, before a frantic finale saw Luis Suárez dismissed for handling Dominic Adiyiah's header on the line and Gyan stepped forward to take the last kick of the match.

However, striker Asamoah Gyan, who had already converted two penalties in South Africa, skimmed the crossbar with the last kick of the game.

Gyan showed incredible guts to take the first spot-kick of the shoot-out and scored but John Mensah and Dominic Adiyiah both had their low strikes saved by Fernando Muslera, who became the hero of the day.

And Sebsatian Abreu then showed ice-cold composure to dink the decisive penalty beyond Richard Kingson as Uruguay sealed a semi-final tie against the Netherlands.

Ghana can say they went further than any other African team in this competition, previous quarter-finalists Cameroon and Senegal not having made it to penalties, but that will be scant consolation.