Colombia have also set up the mouth-watering prospect of a quarter-final meeting with continental rivals and cup holders Argentina.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Ghana became the seventh of nine African sides in the last 32 of the World Cup to be eliminated after narrowly losing 1-0 to Colombia in a match played at the Kansas City Stadium.
Despite the narrow scoreline, the South Americans were by far the better team on the day, as Ghana ended the match without registering a single shot on target.
Thomas Partey came closest for the Black Stars when he fizzed a long-range shot inches past the post inside the opening 60 seconds.
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In a chaotic opening 10 minutes, Colombia forward Jhon Córdoba was forced off with a groin strain, with Luis Suárez coming on as his replacement, while Ghana lost right-back Marvin Senaya to a hamstring injury, with Alidu Seidu replacing him.
The Tricolor, however, made their breakthrough in the 14th minute. Suárez burst down the right and crossed for the unmarked Arias to guide home a far-post volley, after Seidu failed to track the midfielder’s run.
Ghana tried to find a late leveller to force extra time, but Néstor Lorenzo’s men remained resolute and progressed to the tournament’s round of 16.
With this win, Colombia have booked a date with Switzerland in Vancouver on Tuesday, with the mouth-watering prospect of a meeting with continental rivals and holders Argentina waiting in the next round.
