Ghana can only have feared the worst when Luis Suárez’s number came up in the seventh minute. A day on from the 16th anniversary of one of the most infamous episodes in World Cup history, the Colombia forward who shares a name with the man whose handball broke the hearts of Black Stars supporters in the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup returned to haunt them.
- Jhon Arias scored the winner, assisted by a Sporting substitute, sending Colombia into the last 16 against Switzerland.
- Colombia deserved the win and look capable of matching their 2014 best, reaching the quarter-finals.
- Ghana have overachieved under Carlos Queiroz yet lacked creativity in the absence of Mohammed Kudus.
- Néstor Lorenzo revealed he sought advice from his 89-year-old mother, who watches the team attentively and lovingly.
- Lawrence Ati-Zigi made crucial saves, while Davinson Sánchez and Jaminton Campaz came close; substitutes including Abdul Fatawu failed to force extra time.
Not long after coming off the bench, it was the Sporting striker who provided the assist for what turned out to be the winning goal from Jhon Arias to set up a last-16 clash against Switzerland in Vancouver on Tuesday. Even if they couldn’t find another goal that their superiority clearly warranted, Colombia were deserved winners and look more than capable of at least matching their previous best result at the 2014 World Cup when they reached the last eight.
This was Ghana’s first knockout match since that fateful day in Johannesburg when Suárez and Uruguay prevented them from becoming the first African team to reach the semi-finals. But this is a limited squad that has probably overachieved under the experienced Carlos Queiroz by making it this far. A lack of creativity in the absence of Tottenham’s Mohammed Kudus was laid bare here.
Néstor Lorenzo had revealed beforehand that as usual he had taken advice from his 89-year-old mother before facing Ghana. “She hasn’t given me any specific instructions for this match, but she is always attentive and following it with love,” said the former Argentina defender who was part of the side that were defeated in the 1990 World Cup final.
Alidu Seidu, Senaya’s replacement at right-back, then gave away possession in a dangerous area and a better finish from Díaz would have given Ghana a huge mountain to climb. Goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi – recalled after injury – then came to their rescue with a flying save to deny Johan Mojica’s header from a delicious Daniel Muñoz cross.
James Rodríguez looked disappointed to be hauled off at the break, even if the best days of the 34-year-old, who starred on their previous run to the quarter-finals in 2014, are clearly behind him. Ghana again made a quicker start as Antoine Semenyo’s cross fizzed across the face of goal. Díaz thought he had doubled the lead, only for the linesman’s flag to cut short his and René Higuita’s celebrations in the stands before another effort was saved by Ati-Zigi. Ghana were hanging on for their lives. Queiroz threw on Leicester’s Abdul Fatawu as one of four substitutes in an attempt to force extra time. But Colombia still looked more likely to score as Davinson Sánchez saw his header from a corner saved and the substitute, Jaminton Campaz, also came close. With a potential showdown against Argentina to come in the last eight if they can get past Switzerland, there will be much bigger tests to come than Ghana could manage.
