Colombia edge past Ghana to secure spot in World Cup knockout stages

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Wasteful Colombia saw off toothless Ghana 1-0 on Friday to become the final team to qualify for the World Cup last 16.

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The South Americans dominated the game at Arrowhead Stadium and had eight shots on target but ended up with just Jhon Arias’s early goal to show for their superiority.

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Now they can look forward to a meeting with Switzerland in Vancouver on Tuesday and a chance to reach the quarter-finals.

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Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey fizzed a shot just wide in the opening minute but that proved a false dawn for the African nation.

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Colombia were forced into an early change when Jhon Cordoba pulled up with an apparent groin injury and was replaced by Luis Suarez.

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Minutes later, Ghana were forced into a change of their own when Alidu Seidu came on for the stricken Marvin Senaya.

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Colombia went ahead in the 14th minute after substitute Suarez showed persistence on the right flank and crossed for an unmarked Arias to steer home.

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That gave Carlos Queiroz’s goal-shy Black Stars, who scored just twice in the group phase, a major headache.

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Colombia, roared on by a partisan crowd in Kansas City, continued to dominate, playing fluid, inventive football as they searched for a second goal.

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Bayern Munich forward Luis Diaz had a wonderful chance to double Colombia’s lead in the 39th minute but scuffed his shot wide.

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Early in first-half stoppage time, Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi produced a superb save from Johan Mojica’s downward header.

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The half-time numbers made grim reading for Ghana — not a single shot on target and less than half of Colombia’s 319 completed passes — but they were still in the game.

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Colombia made hard work of the second period, squandering a number of opportunities to finish off their opponents.

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Diaz put the ball in the net but was flagged offside before striking another shot straight at Zigi.

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As time ticked down, Juan Quintero flashed a powerful shot wide, but one goal turned out to be enough against a side that failed to muster a single shot on target.

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Diaz, named man of the match, said Colombia were improving game by game, though he admitted they needed to be sharper in front of goal.

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“We’re just missing that little detail of finishing a bit better and staying composed,” he said. “I think we played a very solid game.”

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The winger, who scored 15 goals in the Bundesliga for Bayern last season, also admitted he had lacked composure in front of goal.

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“I had chances to convert,” he said. “That confidence I want to have isn’t quite at 100 per cent yet.

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“I’m trying to improve game by game. I felt much better in today’s match than in the previous one, without a doubt.”

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AFP

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