Colombia Overcome Ghana to Reach World Cup Last-16

Colombia's Jhon Arias (11) reacts after scoring his team's first goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Colombia and Ghana in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Colombia's Jhon Arias (11) reacts after scoring his team's first goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Colombia and Ghana in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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Colombia Overcome Ghana to Reach World Cup Last-16

Colombia's Jhon Arias (11) reacts after scoring his team's first goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Colombia and Ghana in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Colombia's Jhon Arias (11) reacts after scoring his team's first goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Colombia and Ghana in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Wasteful Colombia saw off toothless Ghana 1-0 on Friday to become the final team to qualify for the World Cup last 16.

The South Americans dominated the game at Arrowhead Stadium but ended up with just Jhon Arias's early goal to show for their superiority as they now look forward to a meeting with Switzerland in Vancouver on Tuesday, AFP reported.

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey fizzed a shot just wide in the opening minute but that proved a false dawn for the African nation.

Colombia were forced into an early change when Jhon Cordoba pulled up with an apparent groin injury and was replaced by Luis Suarez.

Minutes later Ghana were forced into a change of their own when Alidu Seidu came on for the stricken Marvin Senaya.

Colombia went ahead in the 14th minute after substitute Suarez showed persistence on the right flank and crossed for an unmarked Arias to steer home.

That gave Carlos Queiroz's goal-shy Black Stars, who scored just twice in the group phase, a major headache.

Colombia, roared on by a partisan crowd in Kansas City, continued to dominate, playing fluid, inventive football as they searched for a second goal.

Bayern Munich forward Luis Diaz had a wonderful chance to double Colombia's lead in the 39th minute but scuffed his shot wide.

Early in first-half stoppage time Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi produced a superb save from Johan Mojica's downward header.

The half-time numbers made grim reading for Ghana -- not a single shot on target and less than half of Colombia's 319 completed passes -- but they were still in the game.

Colombia made hard work of the second half, squandering a number of chances to finish off their opponents.

Diaz put the ball in the net but was flagged offside before striking another shot straight at Zigi.

As time ticked down, Juan Quintero flashed a powerful shot wide but one goal turned out to be enough against a side that failed to muster a single shot on target.



Sabalenka Makes Dominant Start in China Open Title Bid

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in action against Renata Zarazua of Mexico during their women’s singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, China, 02 October 2026.  EPA/ANDRES MARTINEZ CASARES
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in action against Renata Zarazua of Mexico during their women’s singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, China, 02 October 2026. EPA/ANDRES MARTINEZ CASARES
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Sabalenka Makes Dominant Start in China Open Title Bid

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in action against Renata Zarazua of Mexico during their women’s singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, China, 02 October 2026.  EPA/ANDRES MARTINEZ CASARES
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in action against Renata Zarazua of Mexico during their women’s singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, China, 02 October 2026. EPA/ANDRES MARTINEZ CASARES

Aryna Sabalenka sent down 11 aces as she dismissed Renata Zarazua 6-1, 6-3 to launch her China Open title charge on Friday in Beijing.

The world number two from Belarus next faces Czech player Nikola Bartunkova in the round of 32.

Sabalenka groaned over a smattering of unforced errors during the 62-minute match but had the clear edge over Mexico's Zarazua, ranked 94th, breaking to win on the second time of asking.

"I was just trying to stay focused on myself. Tried to stay aggressive on my serve, on the return as well," the 28-year-old said, according to AFP.

"So happy with the game I played today."

Next on center court Novak Djokovic was scheduled to play Chinese world no. 104 Bu Yunchaokete in the second round of the men's 500-level event also taking place.

The 39-year-old Serbian great owns six titles from the China Open and is looking to extend an extraordinary unbeaten streak in Beijing.

Earlier on Friday, Japan's Naomi Osaka wrestled back control to survive her second-round clash with Uzbekistan's Maria Timofeeva 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

The four-time Grand Slam champion next plays Sara Bejlek of the Czech Republic.

French Open champion Mirra Andreeva of Russia overcame a first-set wobble to beat Chinese wildcard Yuan Yue 3-6, 6-0, 6-0.

Wimbledon winner Linda Noskova, a 2025 Beijing finalist, beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-4, 6-1.

Andreeva next faces Uzbekistan's Polina Kudermetova and Noskova will meet Switzerland's Viktorija Golubic in the third round.

In the men's draw, a series of searing forehands from Daniil Medvedev sent qualifier Pablo Carreno Busta home 6-4, 6-2, earning the Russian world number six a second-round meeting with Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff.


Man City Launch Appeal Against Explosive Financial Ruling

A logo is pictured outside the Etihad Stadium, the home ground of Manchester City football club, in Manchester, north-west England on September 30, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
A logo is pictured outside the Etihad Stadium, the home ground of Manchester City football club, in Manchester, north-west England on September 30, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
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Man City Launch Appeal Against Explosive Financial Ruling

A logo is pictured outside the Etihad Stadium, the home ground of Manchester City football club, in Manchester, north-west England on September 30, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
A logo is pictured outside the Etihad Stadium, the home ground of Manchester City football club, in Manchester, north-west England on September 30, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

Manchester City confirmed Friday they had launched an appeal against a damning judgement that found the club guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules.

An independent commission delivered its findings on the club earlier this week and City had until Friday to appeal.

The Premier League leaders announced shortly before midday (1000 GMT) they had done so.

No sanction has yet been decided upon but City could face substantial points deductions, a fine or even expulsion from the top division.

The 10-time English champions, who continue to deny any wrongdoing, said Friday they had lodged a "comprehensive appeal" the previous evening.

"The club's firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe," City said in a statement.

"The club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case.

"We will continue to respect due process and are necessarily restricted in what we can say further until all proceedings are complete."

Earlier on Friday, the English Football Association broke its silence on the case, saying that the commission's decision "has significant implications for the integrity of the game".

"We are carefully considering the decision and its implications and will take action where appropriate," the national governing body said in a statement.


Netherlands Coach Xavi Says he Was at Fault for Poor 1st Half in Greece

Netherlands Xavi Hernadez reacts during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Greece and Netherlands in Thessaloniki, Greece, 01 October 2026. EPA/ACHILLEAS CHIRAS
Netherlands Xavi Hernadez reacts during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Greece and Netherlands in Thessaloniki, Greece, 01 October 2026. EPA/ACHILLEAS CHIRAS
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Netherlands Coach Xavi Says he Was at Fault for Poor 1st Half in Greece

Netherlands Xavi Hernadez reacts during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Greece and Netherlands in Thessaloniki, Greece, 01 October 2026. EPA/ACHILLEAS CHIRAS
Netherlands Xavi Hernadez reacts during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Greece and Netherlands in Thessaloniki, Greece, 01 October 2026. EPA/ACHILLEAS CHIRAS

Netherlands coach Xavi Hernandez said he was to blame for his side’s poor first-half performance in Thursday’s Nations League game against Greece after they trailed 2-0 before fighting back to draw.

The result maintained the former World Cup winner’s unbeaten start to his tenure in charge of the Dutch national team, but it proved a close-run contest with Tijjani Reijnders equalizing a minute from the end at Stadio Toumbas.

Greece had opened up a two-goal lead at the ⁠break through Fotis ⁠Ioannidis and Georgios Masouras before Virgil van Dijk halved the deficit just before the hour mark.

“I’m never happy with a draw. But the first half was very poor. That was my fault as a coach. Maybe I made things unclear ⁠for the players by making too many changes,” Reuters quoted Xavi as saying.

Xavi made three changes at the start of the second half, and the Dutch dominated from then on.

“I’m just trying to be honest, because that’s who I am," said Xavi. "At halftime, I told the players exactly the same thing: sorry, because I think this is my fault. Forget the first half, now we’re going to restructure things in ⁠the ⁠second.”

Ryan Gravenberch, Noa Lang, and Reijnders all made a big impact, but Xavi preferred to talk about a change in approach after the break.

“I think above all that the system was different. We played with a diamond in midfield, and that created more chances," he explained. "The pitch became more open, and we had more speed with the ball.”

The Dutch play the last of their four fixtures in the international window against Serbia in Eindhoven on Sunday.