World Cup: Colombia ease past blunt Ghana
In Kansas City, Colombia eased past a toothless Ghana to secure a spot in the Round of 16 with a 1-0 win, Jhon Arias scoring the match's only goal in the first half. Get the latest on the World Cup with the Ligue 1 McDonald's team.
Arias opens the scoring
On a very hot evening at Arrowhead Stadium, Colombia looked to build on the verve they'd show in their previous match, a scoreless draw against Portugal, with former AS Monaco star James Rodriguez, who has been one of the players of the tournament, in the eleven. Carlos Quieroz's Ghana had a distinctly Ligue 1 McDonald's flavor, with Auxerre's Marvin Senaya and Gideon Mensah in the eleven and Alidu Seidu (Rennes), Elisha Owusu (Auxerre) and Ernest Nuamah (Lyon) all coming off the bench.
Ghana's result to date had been rather more resolute, and lacked attacking flair, and that was the case on the evening, as they failed to get a shot on target throughout the match, and were lucky to only lose by a goal. That said, the first chance of the game would fall to Ghana in the first minute, as Thomas Partey sent a shot fizzing narrowly wide. On fourteen minutes, Colombia would take a deserved lead, with Arias stabbing home at the back post from Luis Suarez's cross. Luis Diaz perhaps should have done better with a chance on the turn before the break (38') but Los Cafeteros were deserved leaders at the break, with Johan Mojica also having a fine header stopped in added time.
Colombia joins the party… the Round of 16 is complete! 🇨🇴➡️ pic.twitter.com/RulJDNdE3I
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) July 4, 2026
A controlled second half
Ten minutes into the second half, Diaz thought he had given Colombia the lead with a low finish from close range, but the offside flag was up against the Bayern Munich man. A minute later, Diaz would force a point-blank save from Ghana 'keeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi, as Colombia clearly had the bit between their teeth.
Colombia would have another fine chance, on a Davinson Sánchez header from a corner ten minutes from time, but in the end Arias' goal was enough to see them through. With the win, Ghana are eliminated, while Colombia will face Switzerland in the Round of 16 on Tuesday in Vancouver, after the Swiss' impressive win over Algeria on Thursday.
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