Ghana's all-time top scorer, Asamoah Gyan, has revealed that taking the Black Stars' first penalty during the shootout against Uruguay in the 2010 World Cup saved his career.

The former Black Stars skipper implied that he would have retired had he not stepped up for the shootouts after missing a crucial penalty during extra time.

Speaking with Wontumi radio, he said his initial penalty miss affected him, and thus, he would've stopped playing football if he had not taken the penalty during the shootout.

"If I had not taken that penalty, that would've been the end. Because the initial one that I missed affected me. Looking at the time I missed the penalty, there was no other option to redeem myself," he said.

"It is like finding yourself in trouble and someone saying, 'I feel your pain.' You don't feel my pain. That is how it is."

Gyan, with the last kick of the game, struck the crossbar and fluffed Ghana's chance of winning to secure a historic semifinal berth.

Ghana eventually lost 4-2 on penalties after the game ended one-all after extra time. Gyan and Stephen Appiah were the only scorers for Ghana in the shootouts.


EE/OGB

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