World Cup 2026: Arias strike sends Colombia past toothless Ghana into last 16

Colombia advanced to the World Cup Round of 16 with a vintage display, as Jhon Arias’ early first-half strike sank a disappointing Ghana side that ended the night without a single shot on target.

Nestor Lorenzo’s charges will now face Switzerland in Vancouver, with the winner of that tie expected to meet Argentina in the quarter-final stage, should both progress.

Ghana managed zero shots on target in the match, and surprisingly only four across the entire tournament — the lowest by any team at this World Cup. Colombia deservedly won the day, having registered as many shots on target in this single game as Ghana managed in the whole tournament.

Ghana, however, were the first to threaten, but Thomas Partey’s long-range effort inside the opening minute missed the post by inches.

The first ten minutes proved chaotic for both sides, as Colombia forward Jhon Córdoba was substituted with a groin injury, replaced by Luis Suárez, while Ghana lost enterprising right-back Marvin Senaya to a hamstring injury, with Alidu Seidu coming on in his place.

Substitute Suárez then delivered a cross from the right for the unmarked Arias, who guided home a far-post volley from close range, with Yirenkyi failing to track the midfielder’s run.

Ghana understandably pushed forward in response, and in one such attack, Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo saw his effort deflected over the bar.

Colombia’s Luis Díaz fired a low shot wide of the near post, before Lawrence Ati-Zigi produced a fine save. Suárez then sent in a powerful header from Jefferson Lerma’s cross, but it drifted off target. In added time, Ati-Zigi kept the Black Stars in the game, doing well to claw Johan Mojica’s downward header off the line, after a cross from Daniel Munoz found him at the far post.

Colombia carried their momentum into the second half, with Ati-Zigi pulling off another flying save to deny Gustavo Puerta. Díaz thought he had scored shortly after, sliding home Lerma’s cross, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Soon after, Díaz had another chance following Puerta’s unselfish pass on the break, but was again denied by an Ati-Zigi block.

Partey almost levelled the score in the 69th minute, but his low drive drifted wide.

Colombia continued to carve out chances to the delight of their supporters. Juan Fernando Quintero blazed just wide from distance, Díaz saw another curling effort deflected off target, and Davínson Sánchez’s downward header from a corner was once again kept out by a busy Ati-Zigi.

Ghana searched for a late equalizer to force extra time, but it was not to be. Ghana became the seventh of the nine African sides that had secured last-32 berths to be eliminated, leaving only Morocco and Egypt still chasing the dream at this year’s Mundial.