Matchday 9 Live Blog: Night of thrillers at World Cup

FT - A classic in Al-Rayyan!

Ghana have prevailed in a five-goal thriller over the Korea Republic.

You can watch the replay, mini match and highlights from this fixture via our dedicated match hub, here: https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/fifa-world-cup-2022-korea-republic-v-ghana-group-h

Thanks for following our live blog - we'll be back for Brazil v Switzerland shortly!

68' - Another twist in the tale!

Inaki Williams fails to make proper contact with Gideon Mensah's cross, but Mohammed Kudus is on hand to stroke his shot home and restore Ghana's lead.

Can they hold on?

61' - Korea Republic are back in a flash!

Barely three minutes after Gue-Sung Cho pulled one back for Korea Republic, the Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors striker again rises highest to bury his header past Lawrence Ati-Zigi.

What a game this is!

46' - Ghana begin second half

The leaders restart proceedings looking to keep Korea Republic at bay.

HT - The referee calls an end to the first half

The players head for the tunnel after 45 minutes of football Korea Republic would love to forget and Ghana will want to build on.

34' - They're in the mood now!

A perfect cross from Jordan Ayew drops onto the head of Mohammed Kudus and into the back of the net.

Korea Republic simply can't deal with this aerial assault!

24' - Ghana open the scoring

Korea Republic fail to deal with Jordan Ayew's cross into the box and Mohammed Salisu bundles it home.

The Video Assistant Referee intervenes for a moment, checking for a handball in the build-up, but the goal stands.

1' - Kick-off

We are underway with the start of the first half at Education City Stadium.

· Ghana will be eliminated from the 2022 World Cup if they lose against Korea Republic.

· In their three previous World Cup participations, Ghana were only eliminated in the group stage in 2014. They reached the round of last 16 in 2006 and the quarter-finals in 2010.

· According to Gracenote's World Cup predictions, only Cameroon (4%) have a smaller chance of advancing to the round of last 16 than Ghana (11%) after the first matchround.

· Ghana have lost their opening match at the World Cup for a third time, after 2006 (2-0 vs Italy) and 2014 (2-1 vs USA). They avoided defeat in their following matches at both those tournaments: a 2-0 victory over Czechia in 2006 and a 2-2 draw versus Germany in 2014.

· Ghana have lost back-to-back World Cup matches for the first time, their final group stage match against Portugal in 2014 (2-1) and their opener in 2022, again versus Portugal (3-2). Cristiano Ronaldo netted for Portugal in both matches.

· Ghana are winless in their last five World Cup matches (W0-D2-L3, match decided by a shootout is classed as a draw), after they were winless in just four of their first eight World Cup matches (W4-D1-L3).

· Ghana have conceded multiple goals in each of their last four World Cup fixtures (all three group stage matches in 2014 and their 3-2 defeat vs Portugal in 2022). The last time a team conceded multiple goals in five successive World Cup fixtures was Bulgaria (run of 5) between 1966 and 1970.

· Only Asamoah Gyan (6) scored more World Cup goals for the Black Stars than André Ayew (3). Ayew netted once in Ghana's 3-2 loss to Portugal on 24 November.

· André Ayew (8) can equal John Pantsil, Richard Kingson and Sulley Muntari (9 each) in joint-second place in Ghana's World Cup appearance makers. Asamoah Gyan (11) tops the list.

· Mohammed Kudus, André Ayew and Alidu Seidu will be suspended if booked.

 Courtesy of Gracenote

· Korea Republic started their 2022 World Cup with a 0-0 versus Uruguay. That match featured no attempts on target, the first time that occurred in a World Cup match since Gracenote started collecting this data (2002).

· According to Gracenote's World Cup predictions, Korea Republic have a 45% chance of advancing to the knockout stage. Portugal (83%) and Uruguay (61%) are favourites to make the top-two in group H.

· No matter the result against Ghana, Korea can neither qualify for the knockout stage in this match nor can they be eliminated from the World Cup in this match.

· Prior to the 2022 World Cup, six countries have started a World Cup tournament with successive 0-0 draws: Brazil (1974), Sweden (1974), Poland (1982), Cameroon (1982), Morocco (1986) and Paraguay (1998).

· Korea Republic have only once started a World Cup with back-to-back draws, in 1994 (2-2 vs Spain, 0-0 vs Bolivia).

· Korea Republic have remained unbeaten in their opening two fixtures at a World Cup three times, in 1994 (W0-D2-L0), 2002 (first 5, W3-D2-L0, match decided by a shootout is classed as a draw) and 2006 (W1-D1-L0).

· After their 2-0 win over Germany in their last group stage match in 2018 and their 0-0 against Uruguay in 2022, Korea Republic can remain without defeat for three consecutive World Cup matches for the second time, after six in 1998-2002.

· Korea Republic have kept back-to-back clean sheets in World Cup fixtures for the first time.

· Son Heung-min is Korea Republic's joint-leading World Cup goalscorer, alongside Park Ji-Sung and Ahn Jung-Hwan (all 3). Only Park (2002, 2006, 2010) has netted at more World Cups for the Koreans than Son (2014, 2018).

· Son is joint-fourth alongside Kim Jae-Han (both 35) in Korea Republic's all-time leading goalscorers. The top three are Cha Bum-Keun (58), Hwang Sun-Hong (50) and Park Lee-Chun (40).

· Cho Gue-sung will be suspended if booked.

Courtesy of Gracenote

· Korea Republic and Ghana have met in six official international matches, all friendlies. Both teams recorded three wins in these games. Apart from these six matches, they also met in the Merdeka Cup (1-0 Ghana win) in 1982, but this match is considered unofficial by the Korea Republic FA.

· The most recent encounter between Korea Republic and Ghana was a warm-up match for the 2014 World Cup, played on 9 June 2014. Ghana beat the Koreans 4-0 in Miami Gardens that day, with Jordan Ayew netting a hat-trick after coming on as a substitute in the sixth minute.

· Ghana have won both official encounters with Korea Republic on neutral ground. Besides the aforementioned 4-0 victory in Miami Gardens in 2014, these teams also met in a warm-up match for the 2006 World Cup in Edinburgh on 4 June 2006 (3-1 win for the Black Stars).

· Korea Reblic have met CAF opposition three times at the World Cup (W1-D1-L1, all in group stage). They beat Togo 2-1 at the 2006 World Cup, drew 2-2 versus Nigeria in 2010 and lost 4-2 against Algeria in 2014.

· Ghana have only played once against a country representing the Asian Confederation at the World Cup: a 1-1 draw versus Australia in the 2010 group stage. Brett Holman (11') and Asamoah Gyan (26' penalty) scored the goals.

· Jung Woo-young and André Ayew both play their club football at Qatari side Al Sadd, Jeong Woo-yeong and Daniel-Kofi Kyereh are teammates at SC Freiburg.

Courtesy of Gracenote

FT - Game of the tournament?

Serbia and Cameroon have played out a 3-3 thriller that sees both sides secure their first point at the 2022 tournament.

You can watch the replay, mini match and highlights from this fixture via our dedicated match hub, here: https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/fifa-world-cup-2022-cameroon-v-serbia-group-g

Thanks for following our live blog - we'll be back for Korea Republic v Ghana shortly!

66' - It's 3-3!

Vincent Aboubakar has changed the game since coming on, producing a goal and an assist two minutes apart to bring Cameroon level with Serbia.

WHAT. A. GAME.

53' - Beautiful football!

A lovely passing move through the heart of Cameroon's defence culminates in a tap-in from Aleksandar Mitrovic.

46' - Serbia begin second half

The leaders restart proceedings looking to add to their advantage.

HT - The referee calls an end to the first half

The players head for the tunnel after two goals in the dying embers of the first 45 gave Serbia the lead.

45+3 - Serbia have turned the match around!

Barely two minutes after Stranhinja Pavlovic levelled proceedings, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic stuns Cameroon with a long-range strike past Devis Epassy.

29' - Cameroon lead!

A perfect corner flick-on from Nicolas N'Koulou finds Jean-Charles Castelletto at the back post to give Cameroon a 1-0 lead over Serbia.

1' - Kick-off

We are underway with the start of the first half at Al Janoub Stadium.