Colombia finish as Group K winners with Portugal second after entertaining draw

Colombia ended their World Cup group stage with a 0-0 draw against Portugal in Miami, securing top spot in Group K while Roberto Martinez’s side finished as runners-up. The result set up a round of 32 clash with Ghana in Kansas City on Saturday, July 4, while Portugal will face Croatia in Toronto on Friday, July 3, with the potential for a last-16 tie against Spain.

Group K ends in stalemate as Colombia claim top spot

The deadlock in Miami meant Colombia finished as Group K winners, knowing a point was enough to top the section. Their reward is a tie against Ghana, a team led by former Colombia manager Carlos Queiroz, who had an ill-fated spell in charge between 2019 and 2020. Portugal, who needed a win to overtake Colombia, will now face Croatia in the next round.

Neither side could break the deadlock despite a frantic start. Within seconds of the kick-off, Jhon Cordoba headed over the bar, while Portugal’s first real chance arrived in the 39th minute when Fernandes forced a brilliant save from Vargas. The game swung between end-to-end pressure and nervy moments at both ends, with replays showing Ronaldo’s effort ruled out for offside in the 60th minute.

Late drama as Colombia’s Sanchez denied, Portugal’s Leao spurns golden chance

Colombia came closest to scoring in the 90th minute when Davinson Sanchez appeared to have fired home on a tight angle, only for the flag to rise. VAR confirmed the offside decision, with replays showing his toe in an offside position. The ruling denied Colombia a historic first World Cup goal in a match they had dominated.

Portugal nearly snatched victory in the 90th+3 minute when Rafael Leao poked wide after a swift counter, a miss that would have compounded Colombia’s frustration. The miss capped an evening of missed opportunities, with Richard Rios almost scoring with one of his first touches in the 62nd minute, only to see his effort drift just past the post.

What comes next: Colombia face Ghana, Portugal await Croatia

Colombia’s reward for topping Group K is a round of 32 tie against Ghana in Kansas City, a rematch of their 2014 World Cup encounter. Queiroz, who managed Colombia between 2019 and 2020, will be on the opposite bench, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the fixture.

Portugal, meanwhile, will travel to Toronto to face Croatia, a team they could potentially meet again in the last 16 if both progress. Martinez’s side will hope to rediscover the cutting edge that saw them finish runners-up in the group, while Colombia will look to build on their defensive resilience and attacking intent.

The 0-0 draw in Miami may not have produced a winner, but it delivered drama, near-misses, and a clear path forward for both teams. Colombia head into the knockout stages as Group K winners, while Portugal’s journey continues with a high-stakes tie against Croatia. The World Cup now turns to the round of 32, where the next chapter awaits.