07/03/26 10:34:00
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07/03 22:32 CDT Jhon Arias scores and Colombia beats Ghana 1-0 to reach the
World Cup Round of 16
Jhon Arias scores and Colombia beats Ghana 1-0 to reach the World Cup Round of
16
By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) --- Jhon Arias scored off a sharp cross from Luis Surez
in the opening minutes, and Colombia controlled Ghana on a sweltering night at
Arrowhead Stadium, allowing Los Cafeteros to advance to the Round of 16 at the
World Cup with a 1-0 victory Friday night.
Colombia will play Switzerland on Tuesday in Vancouver, British Columbia, for a
spot in the quarterfinals.
The game was just minutes old when Colombia forward Jhon Crdoba appeared to
hurt his groin, forcing coach Nstor Lorenzo to bring Surez --- the standout
from Sporting CP, not the Inter Miami star of the same name --- off the bench
as an early substitute.
He factored into the game immediately: In the 14th minute, Daniel Muoz played
a ball to Surez, who sent it across the front of the goal, where Arias was
waiting to flick it past Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi for a 1-0 lead.
It was 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31.1 Celsius) with a heat index of 96 when the
game kicked off at 8:30 p.m. local time, the late start intentional due to the
expected heat of Midwestern summers. The hydration breaks that have been
controversial in so many matches suddenly became a blessing as players from
both sides fought through dehydration and cramps.
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