Colombia’s Luis Diaz celebrates scoring a aim that was later disallowed in the course of the Fifa World Cup 2026 Spherical of 32 match between Colombia and Ghana, Kansas Metropolis Stadium, Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, US, July 3, 2026. — Reuters
KANSAS CITY: Jhon Arias scored the one aim as Colombia beat Ghana 1-0 in sweltering circumstances in Kansas Metropolis on Friday to achieve the World Cup final 16, persevering with a quietly spectacular marketing campaign that has established them as harmful outsiders.
Arias struck within the 14th minute, guiding dwelling a cross from substitute Luis Suarez, and Colombia’s disciplined defence did the remaining as Nestor Lorenzo’s facet prolonged their unbeaten run and booked a gathering with Switzerland within the subsequent spherical.
Colombia had largely flown below the radar on the event, regardless of going undefeated in opposition to Portugal, Uzbekistan and DR Congo to prime Group Okay.
Their breakthrough on Friday got here from two gamers who had not been anticipated to mix, as Suarez, thrust into motion after Jhon Cordoba was pressured off with an obvious groin harm within the eighth minute, delivered a pinpoint cross to the again submit the place Arias had by some means drifted unmarked.
With time and area to select his spot, Arias calmly guided the ball into the underside nook at hand his facet a deserved lead.
The stadium felt extra like Barranquilla than Kansas Metropolis as tens of 1000’s of Colombia supporters turned the conflict with Ghana — a group ranked 60 locations behind them — right into a de facto dwelling recreation, giving the South People a degree of help hardly ever seen so removed from dwelling.
The stands had been a writhing, dancing sea of yellow jerseys, twirling scarves and black-and-white sombrero vueltiao hats, that many used to fan their faces within the oppressive 30 levels Celsius (86 F) warmth.
They bounced in unison, roared their group ahead with each assault, and often broke into chants of “Vamos Colombia! Esta noche tenemos que ganar!” (Let’s go Colombia, tonight we’ve to win).
They needn’t have nervous. Colombia had been the higher group by far.
Luis Diaz had quite a few scoring probabilities. He fired into the facet netting within the first half, then celebrated what he thought was the sport’s second aim early within the second half when he slotted dwelling Arias’s cross, nevertheless it was disallowed for offside.
Lorenzo’s males continued to push for a second aim, and Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi, who was glorious all evening, made one terrific save after one other within the dying minutes as Colombia’s followers cheered each one in all their group’s touches of the ball.
Antoine Semenyo was Ghana’s greatest attacking menace, but Colombia’s disciplined defence denied him a transparent sight of aim.
Los Cafeteros turned the fourth South American group to achieve the final 16, becoming a member of shock bundle Paraguay, who surprised Germany, together with Brazil and Argentina, each of whom survived scares of their very own.
Colombia play the Swiss on Tuesday in Vancouver.
The match additionally marked the primary time in event historical past that each groups had been pressured to make a substitution earlier than the 15-minute mark resulting from accidents, as Ghana proper again Marvin Senaya limped off with a hamstring harm within the thirteenth minute.
