KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In an unexpected turn of events, Colombia faced Ghana in a critical World Cup match on Friday night, which saw them make a substitution just minutes into the game. Jhon Córdoba appeared to sustain a groin injury, prompting coach Néstor Lorenzo to send Luis Suárez onto the field much earlier than planned.
Suárez quickly made an impact, delivering a precise cross that Jhon Arias flicked into the net, marking the only goal of the match. This crucial 1-0 victory secured Colombia’s advancement into the Round of 16 at the World Cup, much to the delight of their vibrant fanbase at Arrowhead Stadium.
“I think football is a team sport,” Lorenzo stated after the match. “Ultimately you do have little groups in certain areas, but you have to have a unit — a whole — and I think our squad has been working on that from the very onset.” This victory now sets up a matchup against Switzerland on Tuesday in Vancouver, British Columbia, as Colombia aims for a place in the quarterfinals.
Despite their triumph, Colombian star Luis Díaz tempered expectations, stating, “We have won absolutely nothing. These games are very difficult. The good thing and the positive thing is that we’re playing very well, we feel comfortable, we are being a family, we are working as a team, and that will work for what is coming.”
Colombia nearly doubled their lead in the 56th minute when Díaz found the back of the net, only to have the goal disallowed for offside. Additionally, Díaz had a point-blank shot saved by Ghana’s goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi, who made a remarkable seven saves throughout the match to keep his team in contention.
“Sometimes it happens in football,” Ghana defender Jerome Opoku reflected. “It doesn’t go your way.” The game took place in sweltering conditions, with temperatures reaching 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31.1 Celsius) at kickoff, leading to hydration breaks that were welcomed by players from both sides.
Ghana, representing a record nine African teams in this tournament, faced a challenging path and had already defied expectations by advancing from a tough group that included England and Croatia. Opoku acknowledged this achievement, stating, “It’s always great to get out of your group. Obviously we wanted to go further.”
Colombia had shown remarkable form leading into the knockout stage, having conceded only one goal during the group matches, which included wins over Uzbekistan and Congo, along with a draw against Portugal. Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, even labeled them as “a candidate to win the World Cup,” highlighting their impressive performance.
Fans at Arrowhead Stadium showcased their support, filling the stands with a sea of yellow, a testament to Colombia’s passionate following. In stark contrast, Ghana entered the match as the underdog, struggling with offensive challenges throughout the tournament. The statistics indicated that Ghana had only 36.1% possession during the group stage, the second-lowest among advancing teams, and this trend continued against Colombia.
Ultimately, Ghana managed only eight shots against Colombia, with none on target, reinforcing the challenges they faced in finding offensive momentum. Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz commented on the match’s intensity, expressing disappointment at the early goal which set the tone for the game.
___
See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here
