2 min readUpdated: Jul 8, 2026 04:46 AM IST
Switzerland have overpowered Colombia in a dramatic penalty shootout at Vancouver on Wednesday after 120 minutes of football were unable to separate the two teams. Switzerland’s reward for surviving the roulette of penalties in a last 16 game will be a quarter-final battle against defending champions Argentina on Saturday at the Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Switzerland vs Colombia game had gone into penalties after neither side could score in 90 minutes, or the 30-minute window of extra-time afterwards.
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Here’s how the Colombia vs Switzerland penalty shootout played out
Colombia take 1-0 lead: Juan Quintero successfully converts the penalty!
Switzerland level at 1-1: Granit Xhaka scores. Vargas got a hand to the ball, but the ball sneaks in anyway!
Colombia miss, so still 1-1: Davinson Sanchez sends his kick thudding into the crossbar!
Swiss lead 2-1: Amdouni plants his kick into the corner. What composure!
Colombia score, 2-2: That was close. Jaminton Campaz’s shot is guessed by the Swiss keeper, but he cannot keep it out despite getting a faint touch on it.
Switzerland miss! 2-2 after 3 penalties taken: Manuel Akanji sends his penalty skywards!
Colombia miss again! Cucho misses as his penalty is saved!
Switzerland lead 3-2: Cedric Itten scores! Clinical penalty!
Colombia stay in the race at 3-3: Luis Diaz successfully converts the penalty after a stuttering run up. Calmly rolls his penalty into the corner!
Switzerland are headed to the quarter-finals! Ruben Vargas scores his penalty to send the Swiss side to the last 8
Just a couple of hours before the Colombia and Switzerland game, Lionel Messi had inspired Argentina to a 3-2 win over Mo Salah’s Egypt, after the defending champions were trailing 0-2 at one stage.
The Colombia vs Switzerland game was the final game of the ongoing World Cup to be played in Canada. The final game of Mexico has already been played which means that from the quarter-finals, all the remaining games will be held in the USA.
The game saw James Rodriguez become the most capped Colombian of all time. Meanwhile, Colombia became the only nation among the 48 countries at the World Cup to play in all three host countries.
Colombia kept their record intact of not conceding a goal in the first half of eight World Cup games.
Switzerland have not reached the quarter-finals of a World Cup since they played hosts to the prestigious tournament in 1954.
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The Swiss were missing midfielder Johan Manzambi, who was injured in training on Monday.
Meanwhile, Colombia last advanced to the quarter-finals at the 2014 World Cup but fell to host Brazil.
Gustavo Puerta had the first good chance for Colombia with a shot from distance in the 21st minute that was pushed away by Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
The Swiss got their opportunity in the 30th with Fabian Reider’s blast at Camilo Vargas, who punched the ball down. Minutes later, Vargas smothered another attempt from Dan Ndoye.
(With inputs from AP)
