Davinson Sánchez gazed skyward while Cucho Hernández walked back to his teammates, and soon, the entire Colombian squad found themselves on the ground as Switzerland celebrated amid a sea of yellow. The Swiss triumphed in a penalty shootout, winning 4-3 and concluding over two hours of tense, uneventful football in the World Cup Round of 16.
With this victory, Switzerland moves on to the quarter-finals for the first time since 1954, when they hosted the tournament, which featured only 16 teams. Their next challenge will be formidable, as they prepare to face Lionel Messi and Argentina in Kansas City in just four days.
The match resembled more of a tactical duel than an exhilarating showcase of football, with both Colombia and Switzerland cautiously probing for over 120 minutes, each seeking an elusive goal. The possession was balanced, with both teams having periods of midfield control, though these instances were often short-lived. Long balls were exchanged, testing strong defensive lines, but the match lacked excitement until the very end.
Switzerland surely missed the finishing touch of breakout star Johan Manzambi, their leading scorer, who was sidelined due to a knee injury sustained in training. Colombia relied heavily on James Rodríguez to drive their attacking efforts.
On a warm, sunny day in British Columbia, the distinctive roof of BC Place remained closed, with a somewhat inadequate air conditioning system battling the thick humidity present during this final match at the venue and in Canada, marking the end of the co-host nation’s tournament journey.
The atmosphere did not wane for the lively crowd, with a significant majority of the 52,497 fans donned in bright Colombian yellow, singing enthusiastically and jeering whenever Switzerland had possession. While it might not have been Barranquilla, it came remarkably close for those so far north.
Colombia’s counter-attacking strategy bore fruit in the 21st minute. Rodríguez’s initial touch in midfield was far from ideal, igniting a scramble that Jefferson Lerma capitalized on. The Crystal Palace player nudged the ball forward, finding Gustavo Puerta at the box’s edge. Puerta’s curling shot seemed headed for the top corner, but an acrobatic save from Gregor Kobel denied him.
Switzerland soon had their own chance in the 30th minute. Daniel Muñoz’s attempted clearance from the penalty area was intercepted by Dan Ndoye, leading to a golden opportunity for Fabian Rieder, whose effort was thwarted by a fine save from Camilo Vargas. The Colombian goalkeeper was later called into action again, making a similar diving save to deny Ndoye shortly after.
Switzerland made a strategic substitution at halftime, bringing Djibril Sow on for Ardon Jashari, and the newcomer nearly made an immediate impact, firing an effort over the bar just minutes into the second half.
Colombia squandered another major opportunity in the 63rd minute when a loose pass from the back left Granit Xhaka vulnerable, allowing Luis Suárez to steal the ball. With a clear shot on goal, Suárez misfired, sending the ball soaring high and wide. The crowd reacted with a mix of frustration and encouragement, displaying much-needed energy.
After replacing Rodríguez with Juan Quintero in the 66th minute, Colombia’s attack became more dynamic. The 34-year-old received a warm standing ovation as he exited. However, despite a more active offensive front and gaining momentum as the second half progressed, Colombia still struggled to score. Through balls were just slightly off target, players were caught offside, and breakaways were thwarted by a resolute Swiss defense. Extra time was necessary, and during this period, Colombia began to assert themselves.
In the 93rd minute, Los Cafeteros were denied a penalty when Jaminton Campaz was tripped by Miro Muheim in the box after just getting a touch on the ball. Moments later, Colombian fans experienced heartbreak as Jhon Lucumí’s header from Quintero’s precise corner kick hit the crossbar. Soon after, Campaz’s audacious long-range shot required a smart save from Kobel.
Switzerland responded with a tense moment of their own when Zeki Amdouni, just on the field, seized a loose ball in the box but was met with a quality save from Vargas, who dived low to his left.
As the match neared its conclusion, one began to wonder if some curse had been placed on the Swiss goal, as a wide-open Campaz shot over the bar from just 10 yards out in the 116th minute. Regrettably for Colombia, the curse remained unbroken.
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