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.
