◤FIFA World Cup in United States, Canada and Mexico◢ Jhon Arias' goal secures Colombia spot in the Round of 16s with a narrow 1-0 win over Ghana..

Colombia secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Ghana in Friday's Round of 32s match at the Kansas City Stadium to advance to the Round of 16s.

In the first half, an unmarked Arias slotted home a shot, while Mojica's header was spectaculaly saved off the goal line. In the second half, Puerta's powerful shot was brilliantly saved, and Diaz's goal from close-range was disallowed. Ultimately, Colombia narrowly won 1-0 against Ghana. Los Cafeteros will face Switzerland in Vancouver next Wednesday.

First Half

In the 2nd minute, Ghana launched a quick counter-attack. James Rodríguez made an error while clearing the ball in his own back half, allowing Thomas Partey to intercept the ball before taking a right-footed long shot from outside the penalty area, but his shot went wide of the left side of the post.

12 minutes later, Luis Suárez crossed into the box from the byline at the right wing. Jhon Arias quickly followed up and, unmarked on the left side of the box, slotted the ball into the bottom right corner of the net with his right foot, giving Colombia an early 1-0 lead!

In the 39th minute, Gustavo Puerta played an diagonal overhead pass into box. His pass was initially blocked and cleared off not far away by Kwasi Sibo. Upon picking up the loose ball, Luis Díaz volleyed with his right foot from the left side of the box, but his shor went just slightly wide of the bottom left corner of the post.

3 minutes later, Jefferson Lerma crossed into the box from the right wing, where Luis Suárez headed the ball from the right side of the box, however his effort went wide of the right side of the post.

In the first minute of first-half stoppage time, Daniel Muñoz delivered crossed into the box from the right wing, where Johan Mojica rose high and attempted with a header from the left side of the box, however his effort was off the goal line by Lawrence Ait-Zigi. 

At halftime, Colombia temporarily enter the break leading Ghana by 1-0.

Second Half

Both teams switched sides as the match continued. In the 48th minute, Lerma passes horizontally from the right wing. Richard Rios got the ball and took a few steps before volleying with his right foot from the right side of the box, but his shot went wide of the left side of the post.

7 minutes later, Colombia won a corner kick opportunity. Díaz took a short corner. After receiving the ball and dribbled into the left side of the box, Gustavo Puerta took a powerful right-footed shot, but his shot was brilliantly saved by Ait-Zigi.

In the 56th minute, Lerma passes horizontally from the right side of the box. Díaz quickly followed up and upon receiving the pass, slid the ball into the bottom left corner of the empty net from a very close distance in the box with a left-footed shot. However, the linesman immediately raised his flag for offside, and the goal was disallowed.

2 miniutes later, Puerta passes horizontally from the attacking third. Díaz quickly followed up and upon receiving the pass, volleyed with his left foot from the left side of the box, but his shot was saved by Ait-Zigi.

In the 69th minute, Antoine Semenyo took a left-footed long shot from outside the penalty area. His shot was initially blocked and cleared off not far away by Davinson Sánchez. After picking up the loose ball, Partey took a right-footed follow-up long shot from outside the penalty area, but his shot went wide of the left side of the post.

In the 84th minute, Sánchez made a straight pass ball from his own back half. and Juan Fernando Quintero got the ball and took a few steps before taking a left-footed long shot from outside the penalty area, but his shot went just slightly wide of the right side of the post.

In the second minute of injury time, Quintero crossed into the box from the left wing, where Rios attempted with a header from the right side of the box, however his effort was blocked by Gideon Mensah.

When the final whistle is blown, Colombia narrowly defeated Ghana by 1-0.

Image source: Internet / AFP