Okafor frustration as Switzerland win shootout to set up Lionel Messi quarter-final | OneFootball

Leeds United winger Noah Okafor endured more frustration, remaining unused as Switzerland beat Colombia on penalties in the World Cup last-16. The win sets up Argentina and Lionel Messi next.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, his only minutes so far were a 20-minute cameo against Algeria in the round-of-32, with the tie already settled and Murat Yakin looking elsewhere when it counted.

The Algeria victory set up Colombia in Vancouver, where Switzerland were without Johan Manzambi because of a knee injury. Winger Ruben Vargas started on the bench with a minor knock and Okafor was not selected in the XI.

A tight 120 minutes followed, Colombia fractionally on top but without end product. Jhon Lucumi struck the bar with a header and Jaminton Campaz failed to punish Granit Xhaka’s extra-time mistake.

Seeking impetus, Yakin shuffled his attack in the second half and extra time, turning to Burnley’s Zeki Amdouni and injury doubt Vargas out wide. Werder Bremen’s Cedric Itten replaced Breel Embolo, while Okafor stayed sidelined.

Switzerland kept things compact and took it to penalties. Davinson Sanchez hit the crossbar, Gregor Kobel saved from Cucho Hernandez, and Xhaka and Amdouni converted before Itten and then Vargas clinched it.

Switzerland now prepare for a first World Cup quarter-final since 1954. Okafor will hope to feature against the holders, with Messi, 39, leading the Golden Boot race on eight goals in five games.

He is Leeds’ only remaining quarter-final hope, with the other Elland Road regulars out. Brenden Aaronson was used sparingly as the USA lost 4-1 to Belgium in the last-16.

Ao Tanaka and Gabriel Gudmundsson both saw decent minutes before round-of-32 exits. Japan lost 2-1 to Brazil, while Sweden were beaten 3-0 by tournament favourites France.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk