Switzerland beat Colombia 4-3 in a penalty shootout in Vancouver, Canada, on Tuesday to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time since 1954.
Colombia faltered when Davinson Sánchez smashed his spot kick against the bar and Cucho Hernández had his effort saved by goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, before Rubén Vargas scored to book a quarterfinal date with holders Argentina.
The two sides were tied 0-0 after extra time.
It is the first time Switzerland have won multiple knockout games in the same World Cup, and their first time in the last eight since they hosted the tournament 72 years ago.
Colombia were looking to advance to the quarterfinals for the second time and first since 2014 when they fell to hosts Brazil. They have now been eliminated on penalties in their last two World Cup appearances, after falling to England in the round of 16 in 2018. They failed to qualify for the last tournament in Qatar four years ago.
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Colombia twice came close to winning the game in extra time. Jhon Lucumí sent a header against the crossbar before Jáminton Campaz shot over the bar with only the goalkeeper to beat following a defensive miscue from Granit Xhaka.
Switzerland were missing World Cup breakout star Johan Manzambi because of an injury suffered in training Monday. The 20-year-old midfielder scored three goals and added two assists in Switzerland’s first four World Cup matches.
Vargas, who has scored two goals in the World Cup, also left Monday’s training early but was available off the bench and came on in stoppage time at the end of regulation before scoring the decisive penalty.
The Swiss reached the round of 16 at the past three World Cups but failed to advance with a smaller field of 32 teams.
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Argentina now await in Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday after the defending champions fought back to beat Egypt 3-2 in a dramatic finale earlier Tuesday.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino was among those at BC Place, where the sellout crowd was overwhelmingly clad in yellow in support of Colombia.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
