Colombia End Ghana’s World Cup Dream with 1-0 Win, Advance to Round of 16

Colombia secured a place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 after a deserved 1-0 victory over Ghana, ending the Black Stars’ campaign with a disciplined display in Kansas City.

Jhon Arias scored the decisive goal in the 14th minute as the South Americans controlled large spells of the Round of 32 encounter to set up a last-16 showdown against Switzerland in Vancouver. The victory also extended Colombia’s unbeaten run in normal time at the World Cup and reinforced their status as one of the tournament’s dark horses.

Despite the narrow scoreline, Colombia dominated possession and created the better chances throughout the match. Ghana remained in contention largely because of an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi, whose string of crucial saves prevented the South Americans from recording a more emphatic victory.

Played in sweltering conditions with temperatures remaining above 30 degrees Celsius well into the night, Colombia adapted far better to the challenging weather and imposed themselves from the opening whistle.

Ghana nearly enjoyed the perfect start when captain Thomas Partey fired a long-range effort narrowly wide inside the opening minute, but that proved to be one of the Black Stars’ few genuine attacking moments.

Both teams were forced into early changes following injuries in an unusual opening spell. Colombia lost striker Jhon Cordoba to a groin injury after just eight minutes, prompting the introduction of Luis Suarez. Moments later, Ghana defender Marvin Senaya limped off with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Alidu Seidu. It marked the first World Cup match on record in which both teams made substitutions before the 15th minute.

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The breakthrough came shortly afterwards when Suarez burst down the right flank and delivered an inch-perfect cross to the far post. Arias ghosted in unmarked after Seidu failed to track his run and calmly volleyed beyond Zigi for what proved to be the winning goal.

Ghana struggled to recover from the setback. Antoine Semenyo came closest for the Black Stars before the interval, but his deflected effort sailed over the crossbar as Colombia’s organised defence denied the Africans any clear sight of goal.

Colombia continued to threaten before half-time. Luis Diaz dragged an excellent opportunity wide with only Zigi to beat, Suarez headed off target from Jefferson Lerma’s inviting cross, while Zigi produced an outstanding reflex save to keep out Johan Mojica’s powerful header in first-half stoppage time.

After the restart, Colombia maintained complete control despite withdrawing captain James Rodriguez at half-time in his landmark 130th international appearance. His replacement, Richard Rios, immediately tested Ghana’s defence with a low effort that flashed narrowly wide.

The South Americans continued to create chances through Gustavo Puerta, Juan Fernando Quintero, Luis Diaz and Davinson Sanchez. Diaz briefly thought he had doubled Colombia’s advantage after converting Lerma’s cross, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside before Zigi denied him again in a one-on-one situation.

Partey offered Ghana’s best chance of an equaliser midway through the second half but dragged another low strike just wide of the post. Beyond that effort, the Black Stars struggled to penetrate Colombia’s disciplined backline and failed to register a single shot on target throughout the contest.

The statistics reflected Colombia’s superiority. Nestor Lorenzo’s men finished with 20 attempts, eight of them on target, while Ghana managed no efforts on target despite enjoying periods of possession late in the game. Zigi’s heroics ultimately ensured the margin of defeat remained just one goal.

For Ghana, the defeat brought a disappointing end to an otherwise encouraging tournament. The Black Stars finished the competition having managed only four shots on target across their four matches, with only Iraq recording fewer at the tournament. The loss also made Ghana the seventh of the nine African representatives eliminated in the Round of 32, leaving Morocco and Egypt as the continent’s remaining hopes.

Colombia, meanwhile, advanced to the Round of 16 for the third time in their last three World Cup appearances. Having topped Group K ahead of Portugal, Uzbekistan and DR Congo, Los Cafeteros have now kept three consecutive clean sheets and will look to continue their impressive run when they face Switzerland for a place in the quarter-finals.

Colombia End Ghana’s World Cup Dream with 1-0 Win, Advance to Round of 16

Egypt Beat Australia on penalties, Reach World Cup Last 16

Egypt made history by beating a dogged Australia 4-2 on penalties to reach the World Cup last 16 on Friday.

It was a tense affair in which Egypt and their off-colour captain Mohamed Salah wasted the better chances with the game ending 1-1 after 120 minutes in Texas.

“It’s history,” said Salah, who was emotional after his country won a World Cup knockout game for the first time.

“I told the boys before the game that this is the biggest stage you can play on. Enjoy it and don’t let the pressure get to you.”

Australia coach Tony Popovic threw on experienced goalkeeper Mathew Ryan for the penalty shootout in a last-gasp gamble.

Shooting towards the Egypt fans and whistles raining down, defender Harry Souttar blazed the first penalty over to put the Socceroos on the immediate backfoot.

The next five players all scored, including Salah with the coolest of penalties, before 18-year-old Australian defender Lucas Herrington hit the bar.

Abdelmaguid kept his nerve to send Egypt through to leave Salah in tears of joy and break Australia hearts.

“If somebody was going to do it, it would be me,” Salah said of his cheeky chipped penalty.

“I am more experienced than others and I wanted to give them confidence. I decided last minute, I had to do it.”

Emam Ashour had given seven-time African champions Egypt the lead from a header after 13 minutes at the home of the Dallas Cowboys.

The early goal put the onus on Australia who scored only twice in the group phase to attack in front of a crowd of 70,000.

With Salah mostly ineffective following injury in Egypt’s last game, the Socceroos equalised 10 minutes after half-time when Mohamed Hany headed into his own net.

Both sides sensed history, neither having won a knockout game before at a men’s World Cup, and they went to extra time after some late Egypt pressure.

With nothing to divide them, they went to penalties.

Popovic’s side had nearly taken the lead with less than five minutes gone as Cristian Volpato — who switched to Australia from Italy on the eve of the World Cup — rattled the top of the crossbar.

Egypt, who won a World Cup match for the first time in the group phase when they beat New Zealand 3-1, looked nervy at the back.

Slightly against the run of play Hossam Hassan’s men took the lead.

Australia forward Nestory Irankunda failed to pick up Ashour, who headed home at the back post from a cross by Karim Hafez for his second goal of the tournament.

The Socceroos had their first shot on target 10 minutes before the break when full-back Aziz Behich fired tamely at goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubir.

His father, Ahmed, played in goal for Egypt at the 1990 World Cup.

The 34-year-old talisman Salah, who came into the match after a hamstring strain, made little impact in an attritional first 45 minutes.

The half ended with Jordan Bos, one of the fastest players at the tournament, in a heap after a flying challenge from Rabia.

The wing-back had to be helped from the pitch and was replaced at half-time by Kai Trewin in a blow to Australian hopes.

Seconds after the restart it should have been 2-0 when Egypt’s Manchester City attacker Omar Marmoush slid the ball off-target from close range.

Egypt’s players celebrate after winning the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between Australia and Egypt at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington on July 3, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Egypt’s coach had said he was wary of Australia’s physical approach, and so it proved as Hany headed under pressure into his own net from an in-swinging free-kick.

It was Hany’s second own goal of the tournament.

Former Liverpool superstar Salah remained a peripheral figure but was involved in the build-up as Australian stopper Patrick Beach saved athletically in added time to keep out Ramy and force another 30 minutes.

Egypt finished normal time the stronger and Salah fired well over early in extra time on his weaker right foot, with penalties looking increasingly inevitable.

AFP

Ronaldo Makes World Cup History as Ramos Fires Portugal Past Croatia into Round of 16

Cristiano Ronaldo made FIFA World Cup history on Thursday night, scoring his first-ever knockout-stage goal before Gonçalo Ramos struck a dramatic stoppage-time winner to give Portugal a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over Croatia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32.

The pulsating encounter at Toronto Stadium delivered everything football fans could hope for—stunning goals, VAR drama, disallowed strikes, missed chances and a last-gasp winner—as Portugal secured a place in the World Cup Round of 16, where they will face Spain in a blockbuster Iberian showdown on Monday, July 6.

Portugal dominated possession during the opening half, dictating the tempo and creating the better chances without finding a breakthrough against a disciplined Croatian defence led by Josko Gvardiol.

Croatia emerged stronger after the interval and deservedly took the lead in the 53rd minute. Ivan Perišić capitalised after Rúben Dias failed to fully clear a cross, rifling a powerful finish beyond goalkeeper Diogo Costa.

The Croatians believed they had doubled their advantage just two minutes later when substitute Igor Matanović bundled the ball into the net from close range. However, the assistant referee ruled the effort out for offside after Nikola Vlašić was adjudged to have interfered in the build-up.

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Portugal responded with renewed urgency.

Rafael Leão came within inches of equalising when his curling effort crashed against the crossbar, while Ronaldo thought he had scored with a delicate lob over Dominik Livaković only for VAR to confirm he had drifted narrowly offside.

The breakthrough eventually came in the 68th minute after a lengthy VAR review spotted Renato Veiga being fouled inside the penalty area during a corner kick. Ronaldo calmly converted the resulting penalty, drawing Portugal level and etching his name into football history.

The goal made the 41-year-old the oldest player ever to score in a FIFA World Cup knockout match, while also ending his long wait for a knockout-stage goal after appearances across six World Cup tournaments. It was another landmark in Ronaldo’s remarkable international career.

Croatia refused to retreat.

Mateo Kovačić inspired several dangerous attacks after the hydration break, forcing Diogo Costa into two excellent saves before denying Matanović in a one-on-one situation.

Petar Sučić also thought he had restored Croatia’s lead after racing onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Kovačić, but the offside flag was raised once again.

Ronaldo’s evening ended in frustration when he was substituted in the 81st minute, visibly unhappy with the decision. Even after his departure, Portugal continued to push for a winner, while Renato Veiga and Mario Pašalić both squandered excellent headed opportunities at opposite ends of the pitch.

Just when extra time appeared inevitable, Portugal produced the decisive moment.

In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Rafael Leão delivered a superb cross from the left flank and substitute Gonçalo Ramos rose above two Croatian defenders to head emphatically into the net, sending Portuguese players and supporters into wild celebrations.

Croatia believed they had rescued the contest in the 103rd minute when Josko Gvardiol bundled home during a frantic goalmouth scramble.

However, a lengthy VAR review determined that Igor Matanović had made the slightest touch on the cross before it reached Mario Pašalić, who was standing in an offside position. The goal was ruled out, ending Croatia’s hopes and confirming Portugal’s dramatic victory.

The contest featured four disallowed goals, underlining the significant influence of VAR throughout one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament so far.

After the final whistle, Ronaldo paid an emotional tribute to his late Portugal teammate Diogo Jota by wearing a jersey bearing Jota’s name and number before pointing skyward in a touching moment of remembrance.

Portugal will now face reigning European champions Spain in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 at Dallas Stadium, Texas, on Monday, with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs. Croatia, meanwhile, bow out after a spirited display that ultimately fell just short.

Ronaldo Makes World Cup History as Ramos Fires Portugal Past Croatia into Round of 16