Colombia progressed to the World Cup last 16 with another convincing display as Jhon Arias’ first-half winner eliminated a disappointing Ghana side in sweltering Kansas City.
Playing in temperatures above 30C until well after 10pm, Nestor Lorenzo’s men booked a date with Switzerland in Vancouver on Tuesday (21:00 BST), with the mouth-watering prospect of a quarter-final meeting with Argentina looming beyond that – and the only surprise is that they did not win by a wider margin.
Ghana ended the night without a shot on target and registered just four in total across their four games – only Iraq had fewer at this World Cup. Indeed, Colombia had twice as many shots on target in the game as Ghana managed in the entire tournament.
Thomas Partey came closest for the Black Stars as he fizzed a long-range shot inches past the post inside 60 seconds.
In a chaotic opening 10 minutes, Colombia forward Jhon Cordoba was forced off with a groin strain, with Luis Suarez coming on, while Ghana lost right-back Marvin Senaya to a hamstring injury, with Alidu Seidu replacing him.
It was Suarez who burst down the right and crossed for the unmarked Arias to guide home a far-post volley after 14 minutes, with Seidu failing to track the midfielder’s run.
Ghana eventually came out of their shell and Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo saw a shot deflected over the bar – as his tournament ended without a single effort on target.
At the other end, Luis Diaz dragged a low shot wide of the near post with only recalled keeper Lawrence Zigi to beat and Suarez powered a header off-target from Jefferson Lerma’s cross. In added time, Zigi did well to claw Johan Mojica’s downward header off the line from Daniel Munoz’s cross to the far post.
Colombia replaced James Rodriguez, on his 130th appearance, at half-time, with Richard Rios dragging a low shot wide within moments of coming on for the captain.
Gustavo Puerta drew another flying save from Zigi and Diaz saw a goal ruled out for offside shortly after, sliding home Lerma’s cross after Partey had been caught in possession.
Diaz was then foiled by Zigi’s block when clean through after Puerta’s unselfish pass on the break.
Partey almost punished Colombia’s profligacy as he dragged a low strike wide on 69 minutes.
But Colombia continued to create chances. Juan Ferrero Quintero blasted just past the post from distance and Diaz saw a curler deflected off-target, while Davinson Sanchez’s downward header from a corner was stopped by Zigi.
Ghana tried to find a late leveller to force extra time but became the seventh of nine African sides in the last 32 to be eliminated at this stage, with only Morocco and Egypt continuing their journey.
Colombia march on as Ghana inquest begins
Colombia enhanced their credentials as dark horses in this tournament with another display full of dynamism. Their only concern will be their failure to turn their dominance into goals.
Lorenzo’s side had 20 attempts, eight of them on target, just days after mustering 24 shots in a goalless draw against Portugal, which did help them to top Group K.
Colombia are now unbeaten in 90 minutes in their past seven World Cup matches, their longest streak ever, and have kept three straight clean sheets.
While there are potential bumps in the road, with forward Cordoba injured and veteran captain Rodriguez looking leggy as he only played the opening 45 minutes, Colombia will fancy their chances of beating Switzerland to tee-up a potential humdinger against Argentina back in Kansas City in eight days’ time, and after the events of Friday night, it could be a thriller.
As for Ghana, it was a meek way to exit a tournament which promised much, but delivered little.
This was their first-ever World Cup match without a shot on target. For all the quality he has shown in the Premier League over the past season, Semenyo failed to register a shot on target across Ghana’s four games, seeing three efforts blocked against Colombia, and he struggled to influence the game, even after replacing Jordan Ayew through the middle after starting on the left.
Colombia’s early goal meant Ghana never had the chance to adopt the low block they deployed so successfully in the 0-0 draw against England, but in truth they were second best in almost every facet of the game and lacked quality in the final third, both in terms of finishing and final ball, and veteran boss Carlos Queiroz is likely to have plenty of questions to answer.
