Former Ghana striker Prince Tagoe has revealed that legendary forward Asamoah Gyan played through a severe illness to score the winning goal against the USA at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking in an interview on Sporty FM, Tagoe disclosed that Gyan was in such poor physical condition on the day of the Round of 16 clash that he was constantly vomiting and unable to participate in the team’s pre-match "shake-up" session.
According to Tagoe, many within the camp were unsure if the striker would be fit enough to even make the matchday squad.
Despite the medical setback, Gyan reportedly insisted on starting the game. Tagoe noted that the striker’s determination was fueled by a ‘warrior spirit,’ as he pushed himself through 90 minutes of regulation time and into the grueling 30-minute extra-time period.
“Most people don’t know that Asamoah Gyan was very sick before the 2010 World Cup last 16 game against USA. He was throwing up. But he pushed, played 90 minutes and even extra time and scored the winner. That’s the day I really knew Asamoah is a hard guy.”
The gamble paid off in the 93rd minute when Gyan outmuscled two American defenders to fire a powerful volley past goalkeeper Tim Howard. That goal secured a 2-1 victory, sending Ghana to the quarter-finals and making them at the time only the second African nation in history to reach that stage of the tournament.
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