Colombia edged out a tame Ghana 1-0 in Kansas City to clinch the final team to qualify for the World Cup 2026 Round of 16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Jhon Arias early goal gave the Colombians a well deserved victory and a meeting with Switzerland in Vancouver on Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey fizzed a shot just wide in the opening minute but that proved a false dawn for the African nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Colombia were forced into an early change when Jhon Cordoba pulled up with an apparent groin injury and was replaced by Luis Suarez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Minutes later Ghana were forced into a change of their own when Alidu Seidu came on for the stricken Marvin Senaya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That gave Carlos Queiroz’s goal-shy Black Stars, who scored just twice in the group phase, a major headache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Colombia, roared on by a partisan crowd in Kansas City, continued to dominate, playing fluid, inventive football as they searched for a second goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bayern Munich forward Luis Diaz had a wonderful chance to double Colombia’s lead in the 39th minute but scuffed his shot wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Early in first-half stoppage time Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi produced a superb save from Johan Mojica’s downward header.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Colombia made hard work of the second half, squandering a number of chances to finish off their opponents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diaz put the ball in the net but was flagged offside before striking another shot straight at Zigi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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