Colombia see off Ghana to set up clash with Swiss
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- Jhon Arias scored off Luis Suárez's cross in the 14th minute for the lone goal in Colombia's 1-0 knockout-round win over Ghana at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
- Colombia recorded their third straight World Cup shutout, allowing Ghana zero shots on goal while Black Stars goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi finished with seven saves.
- Colombia will face Switzerland on Tuesday in Vancouver for a quarterfinal spot — their second knockout-stage World Cup win ever and first since 2014.
- James Rodríguez made his 10th World Cup start for Colombia (tying Carlos Valderrama and Freddy Rincón) but exited at halftime after coach Néstor Lorenzo said several players had flu-like symptoms.
- Luis Díaz had a 56th-minute goal ruled out for offside and was later denied point-blank by Zigi, while starting forward Jhon Córdoba was forced off early with a groin injury.
- Colombia conceded just one goal across group play (wins over Uzbekistan and DR Congo, draw with Portugal), prompting Spain coach Luis de la Fuente to call Los Cafeteros "a candidate to win the World Cup."
Why it matters: Three straight World Cup clean sheets — capped by Ghana managing zero shots on target — have turned Colombia from dark horse to Spain-coach-endorsed title candidate. But James Rodríguez's halftime exit raises fitness concerns ahead of Tuesday's Swiss test in Vancouver, where a win would deliver Colombia's first quarterfinal since 2014.
