Colombia defeats Ghana and reaches the round of 16 of the World Cup

Abayomi Ademola

Colombia booked their place in the last 16 of the World Cup with a deserved 1-0 victory over Ghana in Kansas City, while Jhon Arias’ first-half goal ended the Black Stars’ campaign in disappointing fashion.

Néstor Lorenzo’s team dominated for long periods in difficult conditions, with temperatures remaining above 30°C well into the night, and could easily have won by a wider margin. Arias scored the decisive goal in the 14th minute after Luis Suárez burst down the right and launched a cross that the midfielder volleyed unmarked at the far post. Ghanaian defender Alidu Seidu, who had just replaced the injured Marvin Senaya, was unable to continue the race.

Colombia created chance after chance after taking the lead. Luis Díaz shot wide and only Lawrence Zigi was able to beat it, while Suárez headed wide a cross from Jefferson Lerma. Zigi then kept Ghana alive with several impressive saves, including a brilliant stop to deflect Johan Mojica’s header off the line before denying Gustavo Puerta and Díaz again in the second half. Díaz also had a goal disallowed for offside after Thomas Partey lost possession in midfield.

Ghana struggled greatly going forward and finished the match without a shot on goal, finishing the tournament with only four attempts on goal in the four matches, one of the lowest totals in the World Cup. Partey came closest when he shot just wide in the first minute, while Antoine Semenyo once again failed to register a shot on target throughout the competition.

Colombia now advance to face Switzerland in Vancouver on Tuesday, with a possible quarter-final clash against Argentina on the horizon, while Ghana become the seventh African team eliminated in the round of 32, leaving Morocco and Egypt as the continent’s remaining representatives.