Source :- THE AGE NEWS
It’s Colombia who strike first in this match and the tens of thousands of Colombian fans erupt inside the stadium in Kansas City.
It’s Luis Suarez who sends a cross into the box from the right edge of the field, and Jhon Arias finishes it off. He sends the ball into the bottom-right-hand corner of the net – a rather simple finish – and Ghana’s keeper Lawrence Ati Zigi is caught diving left as he wrongly predicts which way Arias will send the ball.
Colombia 1-0 Ghana, 15 minutes
Wow. I have never heard a nation sing their national anthem as loudly as the Colombian fans in Kansas City just sang theirs. Beautiful.
Shoutout to the Colombian Cafe on King Street, Newtown that was flying the flag high this morning ahead of the match (and probably always). We see you.
Colombia 0-0 Ghana, kick-off
Colombia have made two changes to their starting lineup and Ghana made four for today’s match.
- Ghana manager Carlos Queiroz replaced goalkeeper Benjamin Asare with Lawrence Ati-Zigi, relying on Ati-Zigi’s tournament experience and leadership following his full recovery from a groin injury that sidelined him during the group stage.
- The change was one of four for Ghana, who also started Caleb Yirenkyi, Jerome Opoku and Inaki Williams over Jonas Adjetey, Elisha Owusu and Kamaldeen Sulemana.
- Colombia have made two changes, reinserting Daniel Munoz and Johan Mojica into the team in place of Santiago Arias and Deiver Machado.
Colombia: Camilo Vargas, Daniel Munoz, Jhon Lucumi, Luis Diaz, Jhon Cordoba, James Rodriguez, Jhon Arias, Gustavo Puerta, Jefferson Lerma, Johan Mojica, Davinson Sanchez.
Ghana: Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Caleb Yirenkyi, Thomas Partey, Kwasi Sibo, Jordan Ayew, Antoine Semenyo, Gideon Mensah, Jerome Opoku, Inaki Williams, Derrick Luckassen, Marvin Senaya.
AP
Well, after that thriller, it’s time for us to head to Kansas City, where Colombia and Ghana are going head-to-head for a spot in the round of 16 from 11am.
Colombia is the heavy favourite to win this one, but as we saw in our previous match – anything can happen. The winner of this match will play Switzerland.
Cape Verde came so close. What a cruel finish to an outstanding debut World Cup campaign.
Argentina become the first team to beat Cape Verde in this tournament, scraping through to the round of 16 because of an own goal in the 111th minute.
There are tears from the Cape Verde team.
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde, full-time
Cape Verde win a free-kick with five minutes to spare and Martinez has pulled off what could be a match winning save. It’s Cabral again who takes the ball, mimicking his goal and shooting at range from the right side. Martinez sends it out for a corner.
Play is paused momentarily while Nicolas Tagliafico gets medical treatment. Finally, Cape Verde can take the corner but can’t capitalise. They come closest in the 118th minute but Gilson Benchimol can’t quite get to the end of the ball in front of the goal before Martinez makes the save.
There will be three minutes added on to this half.
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde, 119 minutes
The final 15 minutes has begun and Argentina’s fans have been filmed praying in the stands.
Someone must have answered them, for in the 111th minute, Argentina score off a set piece. Messi delivers it into the box where Romero finds the header. It deflects off a Cape Verde defender and into the goal past Vozinha. It will go down as an own goal from Diney Borges.
Cape Verde have been able to respond to every goal so far, but there’s not much time left.
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde, 112 minutes
CAPE VERDE HAVE FOUND AN EQUALISER. I can’t believe it. They are the greatest showmen in this tournament. They will not stop and you had to think that with Argentina’s goal coming so soon in extra time would make it possible for the Archipelagic side to find a response.
Sidny Lopes Cabral shoots the ball from the left of the goal, barely inside the penalty area, in the 103rd minute. He sprints out of reach from his teammates, jumping the barrier and climbing straight into the stands to be with his loved ones.
No opponent is too great for Cape Verde yet. That will be it for the first half of extra time. Will this go to a shootout?
Argentina 2-2 Cape Verde, 104 minutes
Argentina have found a second goal to put them in the lead after winning a corner in the 92nd minute. It comes from Martinez who already has an assist for Messi’s goal in the first half.
Bizarrely, it’s from the same spot on the pitch as the other two goals in this match. From the right side of the goal, Martinez shoots his left foot sending the ball above Vozinha. Alexis Mac Allister will claim the assist.
Argentina 2-1 Cape Verde, 93 minutes
