Switzerland knock out Colombia on penalties to reach World Cup quarter-finals

Davinson Sánchez looked to the heavens. Cucho Hernández trudged back to his teammates. And by the end, the rest of the Colombian team were on the grass as Switzerland danced, nearly alone in a sea of yellow. Switzerland had prevailed on penalties, 4-3, bringing an emotional end to more than two hours of tense, tentative, and ludicrously goal-free football in the World Cup last 16.

Switzerland advance to the quarter-finals for the first time since 1954, when that stage was the first in the knockout round of a Swiss-hosted tournament featuring a total of 16 teams. They will face a tall task to better that result, facing Lionel Messi and Argentina in Kansas City in four days’ time.

More chess game than football match, Colombia and Switzerland probed and prodded equally for more than 120 minutes, each searching for an elusive breakthrough. Possession remained even. Midfields took turns controlling proceedings, but only for minutes at a time. Sometimes those midfields were cut out entirely as long balls were traded to test capable backlines. The occasion lacked fireworks, but there was plenty of drama at the end.

The game could surely have bene­fited from the finishing touch of the Swiss breakout star Johan Manzambi, their leading scorer who sustained a knee injury in training and was not on the team sheet. Colombia con­tinued to run their attack through James Rodríguez.

The distinctive roof of BC Place remained closed on a warm and sunny day in British Columbia, with an air conditioning system that seemed slightly overmatched. A thick humidity permeated the air in the final game at this venue and in ­Canada as a whole, closing the co‑host nation’s involvement in this tournament.

The conditions did nothing to dampen the boisterous crowd, and there was no question about which side they were here to see. The vast majority of the 52,497 sellout ­gathering wore some version of bright Colombian yellow, singing ­throughout and jeering whenever their side were out of possession. Barranquilla this was not, but it was about as close as you will get this far north.

It was Colombia’s counter­attacking that first paid dividends in the 21st minute. Rodríguez’s initial touch in midfield was far from his best, setting off a scramble that was seized upon by Jefferson Lerma. The Crystal Palace man prodded the ball forward, eventually finding its way to Gustavo Puerta at the edge of the box. Puerta’s curling effort appeared destined for the top corner, but a flying save from Gregor Kobel denied him.

Switzerland had a golden opportu­nity of their own nine minutes later. Daniel Muñoz’s attempted c­learance from his own penalty area was blocked by Dan Ndoye, eventually falling to Fabian Rieder rushing in on goal. The attacker’s effort required a fine save from Camilo Vargas, who had to make a similar diving stop to his left to deny Ndoye a couple minutes later.

Switzerland brought on Djibril Sow at half-time in place of Ardon Jashari, and the substitute nearly had an immediate impact, firing his effort from an Ndoye cross over the bar just a couple minutes after the second half began.

Colombia let another huge chance slip in the 63rd minute, as a loose pass out of the back left Xhaka stranded, his pocket picked by Luis Suárez. With an open look on goal, the striker got his shot all wrong as it sailed harmlessly high and wide. The crowd roared, first in frustration, then with ­encouragement. These were much‑needed signs of life.

Colombia became slightly more dynamic in attack with the removal of Rodríguez for Juan Quintero in the 66th minute. The 34-year-old received a standing ovation upon his exit. Yet despite a more active frontline and slightly more momentum to close the 90 minutes, Colombia’s struggles continued in front of goal. Through balls were an inch or two off. Legs and torsos strayed offside. Breakaways foiled by a stout Swiss defense. Extra time it was, and that’s when Colombia took control.

Los Cafeteros were denied a penalty in the 93rd minute, with the substitute Jaminton Campaz tripped by Miro Muheim after getting a touch in the box. Five minutes later, a moment of agony for Colombia, as Jhon Lucumí’s header from Quintero’s pinpoint corner kick rattled the crossbar. Soon after, an audacious long-range strike from Campaz required a smart save from Kobel.

The Swiss countered with their own heart-in-throat moment, with Zeki Amdouni, just on a moment earlier, snatched at a loose ball in the box and forced a quality save from Vargas, low and to his left.

Soon, one was forced to consider the possibility of a hex placed on the Swiss goalmouth, as a wide-open Campaz fired over the bar from 10 yards out in the 116th minute. Unfortunately for Colombia, the hex remained in effect.