Switzerland 0-0 Colombia (aet, 4-3 pens): Kobel's crucial shoot-out save sets up Argentina quarter-final clash

Switzerland booked their place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup with a dramatic 4-3 penalty shoot-out win over Colombia. 

Gregor Kobel's denial of Cucho Hernandez's penalty proved crucial after a goalless 120 minutes at BC Place Vancouver, with Ruben Vargas scoring the winning spot-kick as Switzerland will now face reigning champions Argentina in the last eight.

While neither side took the first half by the scruff of the neck, they both had their chances. Colombia went closest when Gustavo Puerta's curling effort in the 21st minute was palmed away by Kobel.

Fabian Rieder and Dan Ndoye forced Camilo Vargas into action before the break, with the Colombia goalkeeper making two straightforward saves, while half-time substitute Djibril Sow fired over early in the second period.

Rieder was involved again, striking a free-kick into the side-netting, before Luis Suarez skewed a good chance at the other end as he rushed his shot after dispossessing Granit Xhaka.

Both teams combined to produce just 0.7 expected goals (xG) (0.3 for Switzerland, 0.4 for Colombia) across the 90 minutes, the lowest total in normal time of any match in this World Cup so far, though the South American side increased the pressure in extra time.

Jhon Lucumi saw his header from Juan Fernando Quintero's corner cannon off the crossbar before Jaminton Campaz's swerving strike from distance was just about kept out by Kobel.

The best opportunity of the entire tie then fell to Campaz in the 115th minute after Xhaka was caught out near his goal, but the Colombia forward lashed over the bar as the match was settled by penalties.

Quintero scored to start the shoot-out, while Switzerland captain Xhaka saw his spot-kick parried into the net by Vargas before Davinson Sanchez rattled the crossbar as Colombia blinked first.

Campaz just about squeezed his penalty under Kobel which was followed up by a composed strike from Zeki Amdouni, though Manuel Akanji failed to do the same as he fired well over the top to level the shoot-out.

Colombia's joy was short-lived, however, as Hernandez was denied by Kobel, allowing substitute Vargas to win the tie for Switzerland and send them into the last eight.

Colombia's hard work comes to nothing

This was just the second World Cup knockout match since the start of the 2018 edition to end 0-0 after extra time, after Morocco v Spain in the 2022 last 16, though Colombia's effort in the additional 30 minutes went unrewarded.

Colombia managed more shots in extra time (eight) than they did in normal time (seven), with Lucumi hitting the crossbar and Campaz squandering a golden opportunity to settle the tie ahead of the shoot-out.

Switzerland, on the other hand, recorded just one attempt in extra time, a hopeful lob from Xhaka, and they took a risk in playing for penalties with their recent record in shoot-outs.

Switzerland had only won one of their previous five penalty shoot-outs at major tournaments (World Cup/Euro), progressing past France 5-4 in the round of 16 at Euro 2020, but Kobel ensured there would not be more Swiss heartbreak in Vancouver this time around.

The Swiss shot-stopper provided the goods for his side whenever called upon, saving all three shots on target he faced, and he will need to be in similar form when they face reigning champions Argentina on Saturday.