Former Crew striker Cucho Hernandez’s World Cup run came to an end after he and a teammate missed penalty kicks in Colombia’s 4-3 shootout loss to Switzerland on July 7.
Hernandez came off the bench in the 82nd minute of the round-of-16 matchup, replacing striker Luis Suarez with the score tied 0-0. The scoreless draw held through regulation and two 20-minute extra-time periods, leading to the fourth shootout of this year’s World Cup.
Colombia opted to take penalties first, and forward Juan Quintero nailed the first attempt.
However, a shot from defender Davinson Sanchez that hit the crossbar and bounced over the goal had the shootout tied 2-2 when Hernandez stepped up to take the team’s fourth penalty.
Hernandez attempted to send his shot into the bottom-left corner of the goal, but Switzerland’s goalkeeper Gregor Kobel dove to make a two-handed save.
Switzerland connected on its final two shots to eliminate Colombia and advance to its first World Cup quarterfinals since 1954.
Hernandez finished his first World Cup with 69 minutes of playing time across two appearances from off the bench. In his debut against Uzbekistan during the group stage, Hernandez recorded a dramatic assist, helping secure a 3-1 victory.
The 27-year-old spent three seasons with the Crew from 2022 to 2024 before moving to La Liga’s Real Betis. His 58 goals are the fifth most in Crew history.
The Crew won the 2023 MLS Cup and 2024 Leagues Cup with Hernandez, and he earned MVP honors for both championship games.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ex-Crew striker Cucho Hernandez misses PK in Colombia’s World Cup elimination
Reporting by Brianna Mac Kay, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Brianna Mac Kay, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
