Luis Suarez did what anyone would do when, in the 120th minute of the World Cup Semi-Final, he found himself the last line of defence and in the way of a thunderous shot that, had he failed to save, would have certainly sent his team out of the World Cup.
Suarez - a striker - saved the ball with his hands, received a red-card for the infringement, and was forced to watch Ghana line-up to take the penalty that he had gifted them - the penalty that would send the Africans through and Uruguay home.
Asamoah Gyan - Ghana's top-scorer for the tournament - stepped up with confidence. The ball skimmed the crossbar and went over. The final whistle was blown as Suarez could be seen roaring ecstatically in the tunnel.
Uruguay, with their keeper famed for his penalty saving ability, had been given a second chance.
In credit to Gyan's strength of character, he stepped-up to take Ghana's first penalty, which he slotted home with ease. As he walked back to the centre-circle to await the outcome of the shoot-out, you could almost hear himself asking why he couldn't have done that two minutes earlier and spared a continent of the heartbreak that was to follow.
Uruguay went-on to win the shoot-out 4-2 after Muslera saved two consecutive penalties, that bookended a Uruguay miss.
Suarez will be suspended for at least one game (the Semi-final against the DUtch) and possibly two if FIFA rule his handball a heinous act of unsportsmanlike conduct. I do not think they should: Suarez likely acted instinctively and, even if his actions were pre-meditated, what choice did he have? Let the ball sail past his head and consign his team to relegation? Let's not forget that the free kick awarded to Ghana that led to the goaline scramble was NOT a free kick. Had Urugay gone out becuase of it, it would have been a greater traversty, but probably would've been swept under the mat because everyone loves Ghana, because they're the plucky underdogs. Well, it's rubbish. Gyan had a penalty to win the game and he missed it - Suarez was fully punished for his actions and that should be the end of it.
If you want an underdog story then support Uruguay - they suffered an injustice that could have seen them home, and now must do without their best striker, who himself will have to deal with the backlash of his desperate handball. And they laboured on despite the wealth of neutral support being for Ghana. Well I love Uruguay and I want them or the Dutch to win it all. La Celeste or the Orangemen - either one is fine for me.
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