Colombia are back in the World Cup round of 16, after battling past a toothless Ghana side at Kansas City Stadium.
Jhon Arias’ strike after just 14 minutes was enough for Nestor Lorenzo’s side to snap up the last remaining spot in the next round.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s inability to mount a sustained attacking threat eventually caught up with them, as they saw their dream end for at least another four years.
Colombia vs Ghana analysis:
The second coming for Colombia
Los Cafeteros are through to the round of 16, having recorded only their second ever victory in a World Cup knockout game.
Now undefeated after 90 minutes in their last seven matches at the finals, Colombia have registered three successive clean sheets for the first time.
They suffered an early blow when Jhon Cordoba was forced off injured. Marvin Senaya followed soon after, making it the first match in World Cup history to see both sides make a substitution inside the opening quarter of an hour.
Nevertheless, substitute Luis Suarez would play a significant role in what proved to be the winner, with his superb cross guided home by Jhon Arias. Providing the assist just six minutes after his introduction, it was the earliest goal contribution by a replacement at the finals.
Colombia couldn’t add to their goal tally, despite 20 shots, 60.6% of possession and a 2.19 xG. Nevertheless, their solid defence meant their lead was never truly under genuine threat.
Los Cafeteros have now won their last five World Cup matches against African opposition, all of which by a single-goal margin. They have also now prevailed in 12 of their 13 games at the finals during which they have led at any point.
Goalless Ghana go out with a whimper
This was a chance for Ghana to become the first African nation in World Cup history to win two knockout games without the need for a penalty shootout.
Carlos Queiroz’s side had looked defensively solid on their way to progressing from Group L but, with just two goals, it was clear the problems lay at the other end of the field.
Sadly for them, those issues clearly weren’t addressed effectively. Despite eight attempts on goal, not one was on target – epitomising their serious lacking of a cutting edge.
It was their first World Cup match in which they failed to register a single shot on target, despite having the threats of Antoine Semenyo, Jordan Ayew and Inaki Williams at their disposal.
Only Iraq (two), who lost all three group games, have recorded fewer attempts on target at these finals than Ghana (four), while their winless World Cup streak against South American opponents stretches to four matches.
Bittersweet night for history-making James
James was fresh from becoming his nation’s leading appearance maker at the World Cup during the goalless draw with Portugal (11).
Today, he became Colombia’s joint most-capped player as he matched David Ospina on 130 internationals. The skipper also equalled the national record for most starts at the finals, joining Freddy Rincon and Carlos Valderrama on double figures (all 10).
James, however, was unable to mark the milestones by stamping his name on the contest, with no goals, no chances created, no touches in the opposing box, and just one cross for his troubles.
The 34-year-old was replaced by Richard Rios at half-time, but Nestor Lorenzo will hope his skipper can still play a key role in the quest to match Colombia’s best World Cup campaign of 2014 by reaching the quarter-finals once more.
Read more:
