Jhon Arias scored the only goal as Colombia beat Ghana 1-0 to reach the World Cup Round of 16, continuing an impressive campaign that has established them as dangerous outsiders.
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 and 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.
They bounced in unison, roared their team forward with every attack, and regularly broke into chants of “Vamos Colombia! Esta noche tenemos que ganar!” (Spanish for “Let’s go Colombia, tonight we have to win!”). They need not have worried. Colombia were the better team by some distance.
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.
Colombia 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, whose best finish was the quarterfinals in 2014, play the Swiss on Tuesday in Vancouver.
Also read: FIFA: Argentina eliminates Cape Verde to enter round of 16
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