Tabarez hails team spirit

Uruguay boss emotional after penalty shoot-out win

Last updated: 2nd July 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Tabarez hails team spirit

Tabarez: Hailed team spirit

Oscar Tabarez hailed Uruguay's team spirit after his side secured a penalty shoot-out win over Ghana to progress into the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in 40 years.

Diego Forlan equalised Sulley Muntari's opener to send the game into extra-time before Luis Suarez was sent off at the death for handling Dominic Adiyiah's goalbound header.

Asamoah Gyan missed a last-gasp penalty to win it at the end of extra-time for the Africans before Uruguay won the penalty shoot-out 4-2 to progress.

It is the first time the two-time winners have been to the semi-finals since 1970 and Tabarez's side now face Holland in Cape Town on Tuesday.

The Uruguay coach said: "I am very emotional. We didn't play well, but we have gone through.

"The players are very strong and have a strong team spirit.

"We have a little time to prepare for the match against Holland but we are going there to win."

He added: "We are very excited. These boys deserve everything. Today we didn't play well. It seems there's something forcing us on, it must be the strength and unity of these boys."