Switzerland beat Colombia on penalties after goalless 120 minutes

Switzerland reached the World Cup quarter-finals after beating Colombia 4-3 on penalties following a goalless draw at BC Place in Vancouver, in a game with few clear-cut chances across normal and extra time.

Colombia's Puerta forced the best save of the first half, a curling effort parried away by Gregor Kobel, while Ruben Vargas and Ndoye tested Colombia's goalkeeper at the other end. The second half followed a similar pattern, with Rieder's free kick drifting wide and Luis Suarez unable to make the most of a loose ball after dispossessing Xhaka. Neither side could find a breakthrough in 90 minutes.

Colombia grew into extra time and dominated the additional 30 minutes, with Lucumi crashing a header off the crossbar and Campaz lashing a great chance over the bar in the 115th minute. Despite the pressure and a superior expected-goals tally over the 120 minutes, Colombia could not find the goal that would have avoided a shootout.

In the shootout, Kobel proved the hero for Switzerland, saving Cucho Hernandez's spot kick after Colombia's Davinson Sanchez had already hit the crossbar. Manuel Akanji fired his own attempt over for Switzerland, but Ruben Vargas held his nerve to strike the winning penalty and send Switzerland through to face defending champions Argentina in the quarter-finals.