Colombia showed on Tuesday that it is a more solid and reliable team than Brazil. Nestor Lorenzo’s men scraped together a draw in Santa Clara (1-1), extended their unbeaten streak to 26 games, and sent the Canarinho to the quarterfinals against the fearsome Uruguay.
A great goal from a direct free kick by Raphinha gave Dorival Júnior’s team hope, but Daniel Muñoz left everything the same in the added time of the first half of a magnificent match – another one – by James Rodríguez, who multiplied like the loaves and fishes.
Also Read: Panama Achieves a Superb Victory and Advances to the Quarterfinals of the Copa America
The Colombians will face Panama, the big surprise of this Copa America in the United States, in the quarterfinals next Saturday in Glendale (Arizona). Brazil will return to Las Vegas to face Uruguay.
Colombia went from strength to strength in Santa Clara and nullified Vinicius Junior, who went unnoticed except to protest. There was no trace of the footballer who led the rout over Paraguay.
The Real Madrid striker will also miss the quarter-final match due to leaving his arm to James.
It was an electric duel that lived up to expectations: brawls, tackles to the limit, balls hitting the post, and excitement until the end.
The Brazilian team came out more in tune, with Raphinha, who regained his starting position, and Rodrygo playing on the right flank.
Vinicius could have ruined the Brazilians’ good start by leaving James with his arm close to the area. The number 10, who has a silk glove on his left foot, scraped the crossbar with the free kick.
The opportunity that the São Paulo midfielder lacked came from Raphinha, who brilliantly slotted another free kick into the corner of Vargas’ goal, also with his left foot.
It was the worst thing that could have happened to Dorival’s men, who were determined to play it cool. James almost missed a good cross from Arias and Davinson Sánchez made the Brazilians’ hearts sink with a header ruled out for offside. It took three minutes for the VAR to confirm the linesman’s decision.
And Colombia kept on going. Once again James almost surprised Alisson with another foul from the touchline. Brazil forgot to look at the opponent’s goal. Vinicius, blurred, blocked, and harmless.
The match was increasingly leaning in favor of the coffee growers and in stoppage time Daniel Muñoz appeared by surprise to finish off a good connection between James and Jhon Córdoba.
The draw left the five-time world champions reeling. Lucas Paqueta’s substitution for Andreas Pereira at half-time was barely noticeable.
Nestor Lorenzo also made a strategic change. He took off Deiver Machado, who was cautioned, and put his legs in with Johan Mojica.
Raphinha tried to get his team back into the game with another well-placed free kick. But the Canarinho’s main problem was that no one appeared to organize the game, reduced to passing balls behind their backs in search of a shot from Vini and a rather diminished Rodrygo.
James continued to be free between the lines, receiving, looking, and putting balls into the heart of the area. Dorival was desperate on the sidelines, with the referee and with his own people. He tried to revive the team with Savinho and Endrick.
It didn’t work either. Lorenzo’s team continued to set the pace with ‘oles’ from the stands and could have even come back if Santos Borre hadn’t sent a cool pass from Luis Diaz skyward. The final touch was put by Vargas deflecting a Pereira goal-scoring shot.
James’ Colombia smiles, leaders of Group D; Vinicius’ Brazil trembles, it will have to dance with the ugliest: Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay.
- Datasheet:
Brazil: Alisson; Wendell (m.86 Endrick), Marquinhos, Eder Militao, Danilo; Joao Gomes (m.73 Ederson), Lucas Paqueta (m.46 Andreas Pereira); Bruno Guimaraes (m.86 Douglas Luiz), Vinicius Junior, Raphinha and Rodrygo (m.73 Savinho).
Coach: Dorival Junior.
Colombia: Camilo Vargas; Daniel Munoz, Carlos Cuesta, Davinson Sanchez, Deiver Machado (d.46 Johan Mojica); Jefferson Lerma, Richard Rios (d.76 Mateus Uribe), Jhon Arias, James Rodriguez (d.81 Jorge Carrrascal), Luis Diaz (d.89 Luis Sinisterra); and Jhon Cordoba (d.76 Rafael Santos Borre).
Coach: Nestor Lorenzo
