Colombia easily beats Ghana to meet Switzerland

The 32nd round of the 2026 World Cup ended in the early hours of Saturday with Colombia’s clean sheet in a hard-fought win over Ghana, in a clash that saw the hosts in complete control as they set up a last-eight tie with Switzerland.

The match got off to a strong start with Thomas Partey’s free kick down the middle of the goal going just wide of the post in the first minute in a highly physical game that led to injuries as Colombia’s John Cordoba was injured in the 8th minute and Ghana’s Marvin Sinaian in the 13th minute.

The Colombians controlled the game throughout the match and finally managed to go ahead when Suarez crossed from the right and John Arias fired a powerful shot into the right corner of the goal in the 14th minute to give his team the lead.

The Colombians had plenty of possession after that, but faced little resistance from Ghana, who were content to defend as Antoine Semenou didn’t attempt a shot until late in the first half, having a shot in the 37th minute deflected off the defense and over the bar.

Colombia’s response was swift as Gustavo Puerta skilfully passed the ball to Luis Diaz on the left side of the box, but Bayern Munich’s winger in the 39th minute went wide of the post.

Minutes later, Luis Suarez sent a header wide of the right post in the 42nd minute, then Daniel Muñoz crossed to the far post from the right, but Lawrence Ati Zigou cleared Yohan Mojica’s header off the line in the 45th minute +1 to end the first half with a clean sheet for Colombia.

After the break, Colombia continued to control the game, and in the 55th minute, Lawrence Ati Zigi blocked Gustavo Puerta’s curling shot from the left edge of the penalty area.

Soon after, Luis Diaz headed in a cross from June Arias, but the assistant referee raised the flag and declared it offside in the 56th minute. Then the winger of Munich “Bavaria” missed the only opportunity, but the goalkeeper blocked his shot in the 58th minute.

Colombia pressed to double their lead but couldn’t secure the win, with Ghana struggling to create any real threat except for Thomas Partey’s shot that went wide of the left post in the 69th minute as their attack was weak.

Davinson Sanchez also came close to scoring, but his header was blocked by the goalkeeper in the 81st minute, then Juan Fernando Quintero’s powerful shot went wide of the right post in the 84th minute and Richard Rios’ header in the 90+1 minute went wide of the left post.