Colombia reached the last 16 of the World Cup for the third time in their last three matches in this tournament, defeating Ghana 1-0.
Los Cafeteros reached the quarter-finals in Brazil 2014 and the last 16 in 2018.
Nestor Lorenzo’s team will face Switzerland in Vancouver on July 7, with a place in the quarter-finals, with Argentina or Egypt, on the line.
Unwanted history was made early in Kansas City, with both sides forced to make changes after injuries to Colombia’s Jhon Cordoba and Ghana’s Marvin Senaya. No World Cup game on record has seen both teams make changes before the 15th minute.
That did not affect the flow of the game, and shortly after the second change, Colombia scored. Cordoba substitute Luis Suarez bent in a cross from the right, the unmarked Jhon Arias – ex-Wolves – was able to head home.
They should have added to the lead before the break, but Luis Diaz shot wide after a quick counter, before Suarez headed wide at the far post and Johan Mojica’s header was saved by Lawrence Ati Zigi.
Just before the hour, Colombia celebrated a second when Luis Diaz slid in to turn in Crystal Palace’s Jefferson Lerma’s cross, only for the assistant referee’s flag to be raised for offside.
Diaz, Davinson Sanchez and Juan Fernando Quintero each had further chances to extend the lead, but against a toothless Ghana attack, that narrow chance never seemed under threat.
Important moments in Kansas City…
- 1: CELEBRATE! Ghana’s Thomas Partey tests the waters with a shot from 25 yards that whistles wide.
- 8: Ubbe! Colombia’s Jhon Cordoba has been ruled out injured. Luis Suarez replaces him.
- 13: COME ON! Marvin Senaya from Ghana is also out injured. Alidu Seidu is coming.
- 14: GOAL! Jhon Arias opened the scoring after being picked out by Suarez’s ball.
- 45+1: WAIT! Crucial stop by Ghana’s Lawrence Ati Zigi to beat Johan Mojica’s header.
- 57: GOAL DISCARDED! Diaz slides in Jefferson Lerma’s cross, but is flagged for offside.
Analysis: Colombia need to show more going forward – and Quintero could be the key
Juan Fernando Quintero created five chances despite coming on after 72 minutes
Sky Sports’ Dan Long:
After Jhon Arias scored the winning goal for Colombia in the first 15 minutes, Nestor Lorenzo’s side looked sharp. Ghana’s lackluster performance has served them well in the group stages, but it looks like top-seeded Colombia will have more than enough to put the game to rest.
But, despite producing 2.19 xG, the second goal never came.
It wasn’t a problem in the end, as Ghana gave precious little going forward, but against a stronger team, they could be punished for not taking their chances.
Lorenzo may look to bring in Juan Fernando Quintero to remedy that. The 33-year-old – who plays for his Argentina club River Plate – came on for Arias after 72 minutes, but was a major threat for Colombia.
He had 24 touches, didn’t drop a single one of his 19 passes and created five opportunities – the most of any player on the field. He almost scored the goal of the tournament, but, luckily for Ghana, his rocket flew off the right post.
The first place in Vancouver can be on the outskirts.
