To slightly paraphrase Elton John, Suarez seems to be hardest word for South Korea. If there was any distance-tracking software attached to Park Ji-Sung's team, then it's probably close to blowing up such was the amount of running around the shambolic grazing field that is the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. However, it's time to head from the Garden Route and up to the platinum mines of Rustenburg where Engla...I mean Group C winners USA take on Group D runners-up Ghana. 

I'm Pranav Soneji, welcome to the second match of the World Cup last-16, or more specifically the match millions of England fans expected to be crammed around various huge screens shouting various advice/expletives/encouragement at Fabio Capello's side or inside the impressive Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg. However, Landon Donovan clearly didn't read the distinctly English script, ripping it to shreds courtesy of his injury-time winner against Algeria. In their way stand Ghana, a team 18 places below them in Fifa's world rankings and the only African representation left in the tournament. I think I know who the locals might be cheering for.

As my colleague Jonathan Stevenson neatly summised during the build-up to Uruguay's win over South Korea, the deal is thus: 90 minutes of action, then 30 minutes of extra-time (no silver/golden goals), then a penalty shootout. No overtime in this sport.

Chat: i) A tasty Indian snack, or ii) your opportunity to share your news and views on this website with the rest of the world. Your recipe for success is Tweeting the BBC World Cup group, sending texts to 81111 (UK) and +44 7786200666 (worldwide); and via the 606 page. Put it all together et voila! Haute football.

England midfielder Steven Gerrard is currently chatting to the media in Bloemfontein. "It's only a matter of time before Wayne scores - and hopefully that's tomorrow. He's looking really sharp in training." Wayne being Rooney, obviously.

"I know my team, probably you know the same," said England boss Fabio Capello.  "You know the first 10 players that will play except for one."  The "one" looks like the centre-back gap - who will partner John Terry in the heart of defence?  Jamie Carragher returns from suspension, while Ledley King has recovered from a groin strain and Matthew Upson, who played in the 1-0 win over Slovenia, is also vying for contention.  I have a sneaky feeling we'll be seeing the King-Terry partnership at the Free State Stadium.  Thoughts? 

The Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein is 1,400 metres above sea level, so expect much-lamented Jabulani ball to travel a little further through the thinner air.  Expect a good number of the 41,000 seats in the stadium to be filled by a large contingent of England fans, although their German counterparts are just as vociferous when it comes to following their team.   

Some more Steven Gerrard on Sunday's game against Germany: "Experience helps, I've been involved in massive games throughout (my England career) so the experience of how to prepare will stand me in good stead. There is pressure, but it's more excitement - we can't wait to get out there and win the game."

Here's a gem of a stat from Infostrada: "USA striker Landon Donovan needs one more goal to become the all-time World Cup top scorer among Concacaf nations with five goals. He would surpass compatriot Bert Patenaude and Mexico's Luis Hernandez, who both also have four."

It's over to South Africa we go, where Jonathan Stevenson, fresh from a stomach-filling feed in the International Broadcast Centre canteen, will resume his text-commentating duties for your enjoyment.  It's a "seeya" from me, but I leave you with a Soneji Predo - 2-1 USA.  There, I've said it.

You just cannot stay away, can you? I’d be the same, actually. Hang on, I am the same - welcome back to Johannesburg for what seems like the millionth time this month. I’m Jonathan Stevenson, and maybe if I ask the universe enough times, the World Cup will never end. Gotta be worth a try, hasn’t it?

I can’t quite believe this, but we’re on to Match 50 already. Jeez, doesn’t time fly when you’re having so much World Cup fun? It’s USA v Ghana, it’s the team that topped England’s group against the last African team left in the first African World Cup. And one of them will be homeward-bound tonight.

United States: 1-Tim Howard; 6-Steve Cherundolo, 15-Jay DeMerit, 12-Jonathan Bornstein, 3-Carlos Bocanegra; 10-Landon Donovan, 4-Michael Bradley, 13-Ricardo Clark, 8-Clint Dempsey; 17-Jozy Altidore, 20-Robbie Findley.
Ghana: 22-Richard Kingson; 4-John Pantsil, 8-Jonathan Mensah, 5-John Mensah, 2-Hans Sarpei; 6-Anthony Annan, 7-Samuel Inkoom, 23-Kevin-Prince Boateng, 13-Dede Ayew; 21-Kwadwo Asamoah, 3-Asamoah Gyan.
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary).

USA boss Bob Bradley makes two changes to the side that dramatically beat Algeria on Wednesday, with midfielder Ricardo Clark replacing Maurice Edu and Robbie Findley - who returns from a one-match ban - taking his place up front, relegating Herculez Gomez to the bench. Ghana manager Milovan Rajevac makes just one alteration, with defender Samuel Inkoom starting instead of Prince Tagoe.

American, Ghanaian, whatever - I want you to hit me with everything you’ve got. We’ve only got 15 games left, so don’t waste it while it’s here. People have been chatting all day on 606, why not join in the fun? You can also Tweet me @Stevo_football and get the texts in to 81111 (UK) and +44 7786200666 (worldwide). Complex algorithms it is not.

I do beg your pardon - if you give your page a refresh, you'll be back in Joburg.

(Based on my Russian website effort)
USA 1-1 Ghana
Ghana to win on penalties

USA and Ghana have met once before at the World Cup, when the Africans emerged victorious in a group phase match in Nuremberg. But Ghana, who lost in the last 16 last time around to Brazil, are the last African side left in this tournament - and they have the backing of the world's second-largest continent this evening.

USA finished top of Group C, as if we could forget, the first time they have won their group at a World Cup since 1930. In the semis, they were crushed 6-1 by Argentina. Ghana, meanwhile, are the only country to ever escape from the group stage of a World Cup courtesy of goals scored only from the penalty spot.

"We have shown an ability to move the ball quickly and intelligently. We have some individuals who have made the special plays you need to win championships. We are a team that works hard, is disciplined and is creative at the right moments."

"We are going to fight and do our utmost to get Ghana into the quarter-finals. It will be difficult but we have a big opportunity. I am very proud of these boys. Their main strength is the unity of the team. We always play as a team and not as individuals and that's why we have managed to have success recently."

The teams are out in Rustenburg...

"O! say can you see by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O! say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?"

"God bless our homeland Ghana
And make our nation great and strong,
Bold to defend forever
The cause of Freedom and of Right;
Fill our hearts with true humility,
Make us cherish fearless honesty,
And help us to resist oppressors' rule
With all our will and might for evermore."

The teams are officially warming up and we're officially just moments away from the second last-16 clash at the 2010 World Cup.

Landon Donovan does well down the right for USA, but his ball along the six-yard box is just too far ahead of Jozy Altidore.

Ghana are playing what I've heard described as 'bold red-and-yellow stripes'. It doesn't help Samuel Inkoom as he drags woefully and wastefully wide from 25 yards.

It's a very nervy start for USA, they haven't settled at all in Rustenburg. Ghana totally in control in the early stages and they have the lead to show for it.

Andre Ayew sends over another cross from the Ghana left and the ball falls for Kevin-Prince Boateng 22 yards out - this time he can only hammer way over. At the other end, Jozy Altidore screws wide from 20 yards in a rare USA attack.

From the resulting free-kick, Asamoah Gyan smashes it goalwards and Tim Howard has to be alert to punch it away at his far post.

Decent attack from USA as Clint Dempsey finds Michael Bradley inside the Ghana area on the left, and his fizzing cross is well cut out by Richard Kingson before Robbie Findley can tuck in from close range.

Ghana seem happy to soak up USA pressure and try and break with pace. They've certainly got speedy outlets, so the Americans will have to be on their guard. President Bill Clinton watches on, sat alongside Mick Jagger.

Kevin-Prince Boateng is furious with Kwadwo Asamoah, and well he might be. KPB races on to a through ball and it takes two USA defenders to keep him at bay - but the ball breaks to Asamoah on the right and with Boateng heading into the middle, he just needs to play a pass into the area for his team-mate. He gets it all wrong and the ball flies out of play, much to Boateng's disgust.

Kevin-Prince Boateng has another pop, this one a first-time hit from 25 yards that's easy for Tim Howard to deal with.

Ghana's ball in the final third is letting them down. The camera cuts to a rueful Ricardo Clark on the US bench, what a stage on which to be hauled off so early.

Much better from USA as Robbie Findley is played in down the USA right by Clint Dempsey, but Findley doesn't get a clean enough contact on the ball from 15 yards and Richard Kingson makes a decent save with his legs.

A flick-on catches Jay DeMerit out and Kwadwo Asamoah is in on the left of the USA penalty area, his left-foot shot drawing a brilliant save with his right leg from Tim Howard. Aasmoah was caught by Carlos Bocanegra after he shot, and he needs some treatment.

It's pretty open, this - I hope it's a taster of what's to come in the latter stages of the tournament. Michael Bradley clips a cross into the Ghana area, but it's too far ahead of Landon Donovan.

The good news for Ghana is that Kwadwo Asamoah is back on the pitch after his ankle knock, the bad news for Ghana is that he's been wasteful again, spanking a left-foot shot from the left-hand angle of the 18-yard box high into the Rustenburg night sky.

The last African nation to win a World Cup knockout match, incidentally, was Senegal when they beat Sweden 2-1 in the last 16 in 2002. USA, remember, won their group without having led in any of the total 270 minutes of normal playing time. Can they win again without leading for any of the game?

USA should be level. They break with pace down the right and a ball into the box is controlled and helped on by Jozy Altidore, with Benny Feilhaber poking a right-foot shot goalwards from seven yards only for Richard Kingson to stick out his left hand and make a top save.

Much better from USA - they have come out with the bit between their teeth, especially Michael Bradley who is trying to push them forward from midfield.

Decent build-up from Ghana, but all tournament long they have shot from range instead of playing another pass and this time Aasmoah Gyan slashes wide from about 30 yards. They're like the anti-Arsenal.

Landon Donovan swings in an almost undefendable cross from the left and it beats two Ghana defenders, with the ball narrowly evading Clint Dempsey at the back post.

Great tackle down the Ghana left from John Mensah to deal with the increasing threat of Clint Dempsey. USA are building up some pressure here.

Brilliant defending. Andre Ayew crosses from the Ghana right and if it gets through to him, Asamoah Gyan has a tap-in from close-range - but Jay DeMerit dives in and prevents the ball getting to the striker.

Replays suggest moments ago Jonathan Mensah brought Benny Feilhaber down right on the edge of the Ghana box, but the referee waved play on.

Our friends at Infostrada Sports tell us that Landon Donovan is now the all-time leading scorer in World Cups from the Concacaf region on five goals.

More great goalkeeping from Richard Kingson - is this guy really Wigan's number three? Amazing. Anyway, Jozy Altidore races through on goal but Kingson comes haring off his line and gets there first with a brilliant sliding challenge. I think that's what Iker Casillas was trying to do against Switzerland.

USA are very much in the ascendancy as Michael Bradley has a 30-yard shot blocked by a Ghana defender.

A rare attack for Ghana, but it ends with Asamoah Gyan's 18-yard header looping over Tim Howard's crossbar. If we are going to be spared extra-time, it looks like it'll be the Americans who spare us.

USA work it nicely from right to left inside the Ghana half and Jozy Altidore tees up Michael Bradley in the area - the manager's son shoots hard and low across the keeper, but Richard Kingson is once again equal to it.

Jozy Altidore bustles through on to a long ball from the back and, up against John Mensah, he shows his strength to hold off the defender - but he cannot stay on his feet and from the ground he shoots wide of Richard Kingson's left-hand post.

Clint Dempsey thunders a 30-yard free-kick into the Ghana wall, and this is increasingly looking like the first extra-time of the 2010 World Cup.

Fair play to Asamoah Gyan, he does not stop getting into good positions. He's in the middle again for a cross from the Ghana left, but he can only glance a header wide. Frustration for the striker.

USA are the liveliest still, but they both look like they're settling for the extra half an hour.

Back to the unacceptable face of football - after Fernando Torres' gamesmanship on Friday, this time replays show that in injury time, Jozy Altidore tripped over his own feet when Andre Ayew was cautioned. Hugely disappointing.

The keepers launch the ball to each other and barely anyone else has had an extra-time kick. They look tired, all of them.

Chance for USA as a ball to the far post is headed back and Benny Feilhaber's right-foot strike is blocked by a defender.

USA will bombard Ghana with crosses now and one from the right from Steve Cherundolo is glanced wide by Maurice Edu with Richard Kingson flapping.

Ghana look so much more composed than they did in the second half - that goal has calmed them down no end. They are playing the ball around nicely at the moment, USA are struggling to get back into it.

Landon Donovan gives the ball away, and his coach Bob Bradley has a very big lifting job to do at half-time in extra-time if his team are going to get back into this.

Quick changearound and we're back under way in Rustenburg.

Stephen Appiah is caught by Maurice Edu and the Ghanaians are taking every opportunity to go down and stay down. Suppose you can't really blame them, on the brink of a first World Cup quarter-final appearance.

Jonathan Bornstein is fouled right on the edge of the penalty area by Samuel Inkoom - the first foul was miles outside the box, but he waited to fall inside. Good refereeing, and from the set-piece Richard Kingson does well to punch clear.

USA are taking every opportunity to plough the ball into the Ghana box - but another Ghanaian goes down, this time Samuel Inkoom. There are boos from some Americans in the stadium, and the players aren't too happy either.

Right then, not long left but we're due a couple of added minutes already. USA have forced a corner, and they are going to hit Ghana with everything they've got.

Rustenburg is going Ghana crazy as they have a corner of their own and continue to waste time as we get closer to the final whistle. A cross is flicked on by Asamoah Gyan, but there's no-one gambling. What a lone striker's shift he's put in tonight.

I think USA have run out of ideas and legs. They look a beaten side. They aren't even putting any pressure on at the moment.

Ghana are keeping the ball well and drawing the occasional foul. Nearly into added-on time at the end of extra-time.

USA have a corner - Tim Howard is up for it...

Now the pressure is on, and Jonathan Mensah has to be alert to whack away from the edge of his penalty box. A cross from the USA right is glanced wide by Clint Dempsey. Seconds remaining.

As the US players slump to the floor and an inconsolable Michael Bradley goes to sit on the bench, the Ghana players jump around the Royal Bafokeng Stadium pitch, as Africa celebrates with them.

Normally the losing team on a night like this just wants to get back to the sanctuary of the dressing-room, but there are a lot of USA players just sitting on the bench with towels draped around them looking utterly despondent. I feel a bit awkward watching them grieve, but I wonder how long they'll stay there for.

So we now have our first 2010 World Cup quarter-final sorted out: it's going to be Uruguay v Ghana at Soccer City in Johannesburg at 1930 BST on Friday. An African side has never reached the semi-finals of this tournament.

I think that's me just about done for tonight. We've lost South Korea and USA, but Uruguay and Ghana march onwards and upwards towards the quarter-finals. On Sunday, like you need me to tell you, Germany meet England and Argentina face Mexico. I'm off to lie awake nervously and not sleep a wink all night. Happy sheep counting.