It was crazy stoppage time, at the end of which uninhibited screams of relief escaped from the Ghanaian audience.

In the eleven minutes that the referee extended the game, coach Otto Addo's team had the ball no longer than two or three pass stations.

The South Koreans hit one cross after the other into the penalty area, the tension was high.

All the magic of the sprawling overtime that is so common in this tournament filled the stadium.

And when Ghana finally won 3-2, South Korea coach Paulo Bento was so angry that he was red-carded for abusing the referee.

It was the end of a World Cup game that was not of the highest level, but offered the finest football entertainment.

Not only because of the five goals, "that was a game full of emotional ups and downs," said Addo.

For twenty minutes the South Koreans were the dominating team, winning the crucial tackles and almost always recapturing the ball immediately when Ghana attempted to break into the opposition half.

At least until something happened that happens so often in this sport: a goal turned everything upside down.

The South Koreans didn't defend carefully enough from a free kick from the half field, and the ball landed in front of the feet of Mohammed Salisu, who scored to make it 1-0 for the Africans (24th minute).

As if an invisible force had switched off the energy supply, the previously dominant team from Asia suddenly played inhibited and despondent, and Mohammed Kudus converted another cross with a header to make it 2-0.

But the Koreans bounced back, came back from half-time with renewed vigour, were suddenly dominant again and also scored two goals in three minutes.

Just like the Ghanaians after crosses, Gue-Sung Cho headed in the center (58th and 61st).

But the West Africans coped with those setbacks better than the Koreans conceded first-half goals.

They stayed in the game, which was now becoming more and more attractive, oscillating back and forth.

Both teams had chances, both wanted to win, and Ghana pulled off the coup when Kudus scored the third goal for the "Black Stars" (69').

"The energy is very good in the team now," said the attacker, who was named player of the match. "We're in a good mood for the next game."