US goalkeeper Zackary Steffen saved a late penalty to help his side through to the quarter-finals of the Fifa Under-20 World Cup following their 1-0 win over Colombia in Wellington tonight.
After American defender Kellyn Perry-Acosta was given a red card for a second booking, Colombia's Jarlan Barrera stepped up to take the spot kick.
But Steffen saved it expertly in the 83rd minute and his side held on with only 10 men to confirm a Sunday quarter-final against Serbia in Albany.
There was a lengthy break in the round of 16 contest after only a few minutes as American forward Bradford Jamieson IV was taken from the field on a stretcher. It looked serious and all precautions were taken after he suffered an awkward fall.
Colombia looked to play the game at a frenetic pace, which often counted against them, as they squandered possession in good positions. US defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, who is in the Tottenham Hotspur academy, also proved tough to get past.
