Darwin Nunez tries to STAMP on the penalty spot by kicking through a crowd of Ghana players in a bid to scuff the turf... moments before Andre Ayew horribly misses his spot-kick
- Darwin Nunez was seen stamping on the penalty spot before Andre Ayew's miss
- The Liverpool forward is yet to score or assist at the tournament in three games
- The group stage clash is a repeat of the notorious quarterfinal meeting in 2010
- Uruguay scored twice in six minutes to lead not longer after Ayew's shocker
- Click HERE to follow the action LIVE as Uruguay take on Ghana in Group H
- For all the latest updates from Qatar follow Sportsmail's LIVE World Cup blog
- Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results
Darwin Nunez has been booked for appearing to stamp on the penalty spot in a bid to mess up the turf after Ghana were awarded a first-half penalty against Uruguay.
The Liverpool forward was one of several players from both sides to surround the referee inside the Uruguay box ahead of Ayew's shocking penalty miss, and footage appears to show his attempts to ruin the penalty spot.
The 23-year-old was booked for what the referee deemed to be an attempt to scuff the turf and make it that much harder for the Ghana skipper to convert form 12 yards.
![Nunez was booked after stamping on the penalty spot in the first half of the win over Ghana](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/16/65178311-11495679-image-a-8_1669997649792.jpg)
Darwin Nunez was shown a yellow after stamping on the penalty spot in an apparent attempt to scuff the turf
![The 23-year-old could be seen stamping down through a crowd of Ghana players in the box](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/16/65179131-11495679-image-a-20_1669998650102.jpg)
The 23-year-old could be seen stamping down through a crowd of Ghana players in the box
As it was, Ayew was unable to seize the initiative handed to his side and put the Black Stars ahead in the early stages of the first half, although it is unclear whether Nunez's actions had anything to do with this.
The ex-Swansea frontman was unable to put the ball past Uruguayan goalkeeper Sergio Rochet - who gave the penalty away - after the keeper dived low to his left to keep his side on level terms.
Uruguay then went on to score twice in six first half minutes to lead 2-0 by the break in a game that could see either side join Portugal in the knockout rounds.
![Ghana defender Baba Rahman then pushed Nunez away to prevent further nefarious intervention](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/16/65179133-11495679-image-a-21_1669998686969.jpg)
Ghana defender Baba Rahman then pushed Nunez away to prevent further nefarious intervention
In going into referee Daniel Siebert's book, Nunez made his first impact of note on the world Cup in Qatar.
The Liverpool record signing had neither scored nor assisted heading into the game in what has been a quiet campaign for both him and his side, who were equally goalless prior to kick-off.
The clash between the Black Stars and La Celeste is one steeped in World Cup history, following Luis Suarez's infamous deliberate handball off the goal line in 2010 with Ghana looking to become the first African side to reach the semifinals.
![Giorgian de Arrascaeta scored twice in the first half to give Uruguay a 2-0 lead by the break](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/16/65178901-11495679-image-a-10_1669998226380.jpg)
Giorgian de Arrascaeta scored twice in the first half to give Uruguay a 2-0 lead by the break
His exploits resulted in a penalty for Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan, which the former Sunderland forward could only smash against the bar.
Suarez was see celebrating from the tunnel after being sent off for denying a goal scoring opportunity, and subsequently missed the semifinal defeat to a Gio van Bronckhorst stunner for Holland.
Suarez in fact returned to haunt Ghanaian fans with an assist for the first goal, which was headed home by Giorgian de Arrascaeta, before the pair combined yet again six minutes later to make it 2-0.
![Nunez's booking was his first action of note in Qatar having failed to score or assist thus far](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/16/65178309-11495679-image-a-9_1669997816164.jpg)
Nunez's booking was his first action of note in Qatar having failed to score or assist thus far
With the Suarez controversy hanging ominously over the game ahead of kick-off, the striker was treated to several questions about his past antics.
One English- speaking journalist put it to him in press conference prior to the clash that 'some Ghanaians feel you are the devil itself and they are looking forward to retiring you'.
'I don't apologise,' he said. 'The Ghana player missed the penalty, not me. Maybe I can apologise if I make a tackle and injure a player, but on this occasion I take a red card and it's not my fault because I don't miss a penalty.'
![Luis Suarez punched a header off the line to deny Ghana a last-gasp goal at the 2010 World Cup](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/30/20/65103613-0-image-a-57_1669841177774.jpg)
Luis Suarez punched a header off the line to deny Ghana a last-gasp goal at the 2010 World Cup
![Ghana were awarded a penalty as a result but Asamoah Gyan (middle) missed from the spot](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/16/65103617-11495679-Ghana_were_awarded_a_penalty_as_a_result_but_Asamoah_Gyan_middle-m-25_1669999442019.jpg)
Ghana were awarded a penalty as a result but Asamoah Gyan (middle) missed from the spot
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