Colombia edge Ghana to set up Switzerland showdown
WINNER: Colombia's Jhon Arias celebrates scoring the decisive goal that advanced his nation to a World Cup Round of 16 meeting with the Swiss after defeating Ghana in sweltering Kansas City. Pic: odd Andersen, Getty
Colombia booked the last place in the World Cup’s last 16 as they beat Ghana 1-0 in Kansas City.
Jhon Arias grabbed the only goal after 14 minutes as they earned a meeting with Switzerland in Vancouver.
Arias struck in the 14th minute, guiding home a cross from substitute Luis Suarez, and Colombia's disciplined defence did the rest as Nestor Lorenzo's side extended their unbeaten run and booked a meeting with Switzerland in the next round.
Colombia had largely flown under the radar at the tournament, despite going undefeated against Portugal, Uzbekistan and DR Congo to top Group K.
Their breakthrough came from two players who had not been expected to combine, as Suarez, thrust into action after Jhon Cordoba was forced off with an apparent groin injury in the eighth minute, delivered a pinpoint cross to the back post where Arias had somehow drifted unmarked.
With time and space to pick his spot, Arias calmly guided the ball into the bottom corner to hand his side a deserved lead.
The stadium felt more like Barranquilla than Kansas City as tens of thousands of Colombia supporters turned the clash with Ghana -- a team ranked 60 places behind them -- into a de facto home game, giving the South Americans a level of support rarely seen so far from home.
The stands were a writhing, dancing sea of yellow jerseys, twirling scarves and black-and-white sombrero vueltiao hats that many used to fan their faces in the oppressive 30 degrees Celsius (86 F) heat.
They bounced in unison, roared their team forward with every attack, and regularly broke into chants of "Vamos Colombia! Esta noche tenemos que ganar!" (Let's go Colombia, tonight we have to win).
They need not have worried. Colombia were the better team by some distance.
"I don't have the words to describe this moment," said Colombia midfielder Gustavo Puerta. "It's a dream come true.
"I think we've shown it game after game. This is a team that plays with its heart, that plays with its soul. We go after every ball as if it were the last."
Luis Diaz had numerous scoring chances. He fired into the side netting in the first half, then celebrated what he thought was the game's second goal early in the second half when he slotted home Arias's cross, but it was disallowed for offside.
"We need to stay grounded, take it step by step, remain calm and keep improving," Diaz said. "That's what football -- and life -- is all about. So, I'm very relaxed, focused on working for what's ahead, and getting some rest, which is going to be extremely important."
Lorenzo's men continued to push for a second goal, and Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi, who was excellent all night, made one terrific save after another in the dying minutes as Colombia's fans cheered every one of their team's touches of the ball.
Antoine Semenyo was Ghana's biggest attacking threat, yet Colombia's disciplined defence denied him a clear sight of goal.
"They controlled much better the game," said Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz. "The passing, the movements, and doing that, they damaged our fitness and our ability to recover the ball and try to go forward.
"We tried to go forward, tried to create opportunities, but for any reason, the last pass, the last service, was not with the quality that was necessary in this case. So, I think the best team won."
Los Cafeteros became the fourth South American team to reach the last 16, joining surprise package Paraguay, who stunned Germany, along with Brazil and Argentina, both of whom survived scares of their own.
Colombia play the Swiss on Tuesday in Vancouver.
The match also marked the first time in tournament history that both teams were forced to make a substitution before the 15-minute mark due to injuries, as Ghana right back Marvin Senaya limped off with a hamstring injury in the 13th minute.
Both sides were forced into early changes by injury, Luis Suarez coming on for Jhon Cordoba and making an instant impact – his cross being swept in by the unmarked Arias at the far post.
Alidu Seidu had a tougher time after coming on at right-back for Ghana, facing the dangerous Luis Diaz as Colombia looked the more threatening team.
Colombia thought they had doubled their lead as they created a chance for Diaz to turn in at the far post, only for the offside flag to cut short celebrations, Ati Zigi denying the former Liverpool forward moments later after another sweeping move.
Ghana did find some attacking presence in the second half, but failed to force a save from Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas.
Diaz refused to get too excited, the Bayern Munich player saying: “We have won absolutely nothing.
“The good thing and the positive thing is that we’re playing very well, we feel comfortable, we are being a family, we are working as a team and that will work for what is coming.” Ghana defender Jerome Opoku admitted that “sometimes… it doesn’t go your way”.
“It’s always great to get out of your group. Obviously we wanted to go further,” he said
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