Jhon Arias was part of a Colombia side that met Portugal in the final Group K game at the World Cup with first place on the line. Cristiano Ronaldo had already scored twice against Uzbekistan, but he still found no clean route through a tight Colombian line.
Portugal needed a win to finish top of Group K. That was the task from the opening minutes, and Ronaldo’s best opening in the match went wide of Vargas’s left post before replays showed he had been a yard offside when João Félix played the ball through.
Ronaldo Against Davison Sanchez
Portugal kept the ball well in midfield, but Colombia kept forcing the issue through Davison Sanchez, who was playing like a World Cup best XI defender. Ronaldo was unhappy with the rough treatment from the Colombian defenders, and the contact helped turn each Portuguese attack into a slower, narrower move.
Félix provided the cleanest service. He broke down the left, took the ball in his stride, then sent a pass that was behind Fernandes and not strong enough to reach Ronaldo. Dalot also delivered from the right, but Félix mistimed his header and sent it over the bar.
Rios And Suarez Enter
Colombia changed shape through the bench, with Rios coming on and Rios and Suarez replacing Lerma and Cordoba. Santiago Arias then drove down the right and squared the ball across, but Rios could not control his shot and blasted it wide.
At the other end, Lerma tested Costa from range and forced the Portugal goalkeeper to get two hands behind the shot to turn it away. The Colombia fans were still in full voice at the start of the second half, while Uzbekistan were leading DR Congo in the other Group K game, leaving the top of the group to the match in front of them.
That left one simple pressure point for Portugal: only a win would secure first place in Group K. With Ronaldo denied by the flag and Vargas, and Colombia getting the cleaner looks late in the sequence, the group finish depended on whether Portugal could turn possession into one decisive chance.
