KANSAS CITY
\nJhon Arias scored the only goal as Colombia beat Ghana 1-0 in sweltering conditions in Kansas City on Friday to reach the World Cup last 16, continuing a quietly impressive campaign that has established them as dangerous outsiders.
\nArias struck in the 14th minute, guiding home a cross from substitute Luis Suarez, and Colombia\u2019s disciplined defence did the rest as Nestor Lorenzo\u2019s side extended their unbeaten run and booked a meeting with Switzerland in the next round.
\nColombia had largely flown under the radar at the tournament, despite going undefeated against Portugal, Uzbekistan and DR Congo to top Group K.
\nTheir breakthrough on Friday came from two players who had not been expected to combine, as Suarez, thrust into action after Jhon Cordoba was forced off with an apparent groin injury in the eighth minute, delivered a pinpoint cross to the back post where Arias had somehow drifted unmarked.
\nWith time and space to pick his spot, Arias calmly guided the ball into the bottom corner to hand his side a deserved lead.
\nThe stadium felt more like Barranquilla than Kansas City as tens of thousands of Colombia supporters turned the clash with Ghana \u2014 a team ranked 60 places behind them \u2014 into a de facto home game, giving the South Americans a level of support rarely seen so far from home.
\nThe stands were a writhing, dancing sea of yellow jerseys, twirling scarves and black-and-white sombrero vueltiao hats, that many used to fan their faces in the oppressive 30 degrees Celsius (86 F) heat.
\nThey bounced in unison, roared their team forward with every attack, and regularly broke into chants of \u201cVamos Colombia! Esta noche tenemos que ganar!\u201d (Let\u2019s go Colombia, tonight we have to win).
\nThey need not have worried. Colombia were the better team by some distance.
\nLuis Diaz had numerous scoring chances. He fired into the side netting in the first half, then celebrated what he thought was the game\u2019s second goal early in the second half when he slotted home Arias\u2019s cross, but it was disallowed for offside.
\nLorenzo\u2019s men continued to push for a second goal, and Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi, who was excellent all night, made one terrific save after another in the dying minutes as Colombia\u2019s fans cheered every one of their team\u2019s touches of the ball.
\nAntoine Semenyo was Ghana\u2019s biggest attacking threat, yet Colombia\u2019s disciplined defence denied him a clear sight of goal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
KANSAS CITY Jhon Arias scored the only goal as Colombia beat Ghana 1-0 in sweltering conditions in Kansas City on Friday to reach the World Cup last 16, continuing a quietly impressive campaign that has established them as dangerous outsiders. Arias struck in the 14th minute, guiding home a cross from substitute Luis Suarez, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-554603","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n