KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The plan for Colombia against Ghana on Friday night time in all probability did not contain making a substitution just minutes into the match.
That plan also went by the wayside when Jhon Córdoba appeared to harm his groin.
Forced into making a uncommon early transfer, Colombia coach Néstor Lorenzo despatched Luis Suárez onto the area, and he promptly delivered a sharp cross that Jhon Arias flicked into the web, ensuing in the only purpose on a sweltering night time at Arrowhead Stadium and sending Los Cafeteros into the Round of 16 at the World Cup with a 1-0 victory over the Black Stars.
Luis Diaz celebrates after setting up the purpose for Jhon Arias (background) for Columbia’s only purpose in their 1-0 win over Ghana in World Cup Round of 32 play on July 3, 2026 in Kansas City, Mo. FIFA via Getty Images
“I think football is a team sport,” Lorenzo said. “Ultimately you do have little groups in certain areas, but you have to have a unit — a whole — and I think our squad has been working on that from the very onset. That was the goal from the very beginning.”
The early purpose was a good omen: Colombia has won 11 consecutive World Cup matches when scoring first. Now, it will play Switzerland on Tuesday in Vancouver, British Columbia, for a spot in the quarterfinals.
“We have won absolutely nothing,” Colombia star Luis Díaz said. “These games are very difficult. Every game we’ve seen has been tight. 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.”
Los Cafeteros thought they had doubled their lead in the 56th minute, when Díaz discovered the back of the web only to see the offside flag raised, and the fleet-footed Colombia ahead had a point-blank shot saved by Lawrence Ati Zigi a few minutes later.
Zigi wound up making seven saves to maintain Ghana in the recreation.
“Sometimes it happens in football,” Ghana defender Jerome Opoku said, “that it doesn’t go your way.”
Jhon Arias celebrates after scoring the only purpose in Columbia’s victory over Ghana. EPA/Shutterstock
It was 88 levels Fahrenheit (31.1 Celsius) with a warmth index of 96 when the recreation kicked off at 8:30 p.m. native time, the late begin intentional due to the expected warmth of Midwestern summers.
The hydration breaks that have been controversial in so many matches instantly grew to become a blessing as gamers from both sides fought through dehydration and cramps.
Ghana was one of a document 9 groups from Africa to escape the group stage of the World Cup. And while many gave matches to some of the event favorites — howdy, Cape Verde against Argentina — only Morocco and Egypt were ready to attain the Round of 16.
“It’s always great to get out of your group,” Opoku said. “Obviously we wanted to go further.”
Colombia had breezed through the group stage, conceding only a single purpose in wins over Uzbekistan and Congo and a draw with Portugal. In truth, Los Cafeteros had been so spectacular that Spain coach Luis de la Fuente — whose own team is thought of among the event favorites — tapped them as “a candidate to win the World Cup.”
Their followers actually believe in them.
The home of the NFL’s Chiefs has three ranges of seats with a band of yellow ones sandwiched between crimson. Yet the total bowl of the stadium just east of downtown Kansas City was awash in the vibrant yellow of Colombia some 2 hours before kickoff.
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Ghana knew it would be an underdog. Yet the team that failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations last yr for the first time in practically twenty years had already answered lots of critics by surviving a tough group topped by England and Croatia.
The query as it confronted Colombia: Could Ghana mount enough offense?
As expected, Los Cafeteros dominated the ball — the Black Stars had possessed it just 36.1% of the time in the group stage, second-least of any team that superior, and these offensive points continued against Colombia. Even when Ghana managed to put collectively an attack, Colombia was there to rapidly counter with the velocity of Suárez, Díaz and its midfielders.
Ghana wound up taking eight photographs against Colombia. None of them were on purpose.
“Intense game. Tough game for both teams, I guess, as I expected,” Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz said. “Colombia started the game as we expected, full speed, a lot of intensity, passing. We tried to answer and stop them, but unfortunately the goal came too early for us.”
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