Colombia defeated the United States 5-1 this Saturday in a preparation game for the Copa América in which it maintained its unbeaten streak since the arrival of Argentine coach Néstor Lorenzo.
The national team took the lead through Jhon Arias in the 6th minute and Rafael Santos Borré in the 19th in Landover (Maryland, United States), where it had majority support of around 55,000 fans present.
Tim Weah scored for the locals in the 58th minute but the substitutes Richard Ríos (77′), Jorge Carrascal (85′) and Luis Sinisterra (88′) certified the humiliating victory for Colombia, which reaches 19 games without knowing defeat with Lorenzo in the bank.
“It was a very nice game for us. We knew we were facing an opponent who is doing things well, intense, aggressive. But we went out for the game and scored goals quickly,” Santos Borré declared on the pitch to Telemundo.
After being left out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the ‘coffee’ team has been reborn under the command of Lorenzo, José Pekerman’s former assistant. Since its arrival in September 2022, Colombia has had a streak of 14 wins, with victims such as Brazil, Germany and Spain, and five draws.
“We do not have to be confused with the result or with the undefeated. We have to be focused on the preparation” for the Copa América, warned Santos Borré.
The South American squad left a great impression on Saturday under the vibrant atmosphere of the FedEx Field stadium, home of the Washington Commanders of American football, filled with Colombian jerseys in the stands.
Lorenzo’s team took perfect advantage of their rival’s weakness in the midfield and defensive errors to seal with a good note the penultimate test before the Copa América (June 20 – July 14).
The other match of the previous tour of the United States will be in Hartford (Connecticut) against Bolivia on June 15.
On the other hand, this beating increases doubts around the United States, days before the most important soccer cycle in its history begins, which will culminate with the 2026 World Cup, co-organized with Mexico and Canada.
The last opportunity to improve for the team led by Gregg Berhalter will be against the powerful Brazil on June 12 in Orlando (Florida).
– Colombian party –
One of Berhalter’s main unknowns is the replacement of the injured Sergiño Dest on the right side, but his problems accumulated early on on the left wing.
At six minutes, Jhon Arias opened the scoring with a powerful shot to the short post after a play started on the right by Daniel Muñoz.
From the same sector Arias placed a cross that, after several rebounds, ended up reaching Borré, who defined it with a spectacular scissors.
At the other goal, Christian Pulisic hit the post in the 32nd minute in one of several dangerous attempts that the United States wasted.
The locals pressed back from the locker room thanks to the entry of striker Haji Wright. In the 58th minute, a triangulation between Wright and Folarin Balogun allowed Tim Weah to score with a half-turned shot.
The United States advanced lines in search of an equalizer but all they managed to do was leave their weak midfield unguarded and facilitate Colombia’s counterattacks.
Luis Díaz hit the post in the 61st minute before Richard Ríos made his debut as Colombia’s scorer with a shot from the penalty spot following a pass from Jhon Jáder Durán.
The Colombian party was complete thanks to two childish turnovers by the American defense that gave away the final goals for Carrascal and Sinisterra.
Lineups:
USA: Matt Turner – Joe Scally, Chris Richards, Tim Ream (Cameron Carter-Vickers, 62), Antonee Robinson – Weston McKennie (Yunus Musah, 71), Johnny Cardoso (Luca de la Torre, 83), Gio Reyna (Malik Tillman , 62) – Christian Pulisic (Haji Wright, 46), Tim Weah and Folarin Balogun (Ricardo Pepi, 71). DT: Gregg Berhalter.
Colombia: Camilo Vargas – Daniel Muñoz, Dávinson Sánchez, John Lucumí, Johan Mojica – Jefferson Lerma, Matheus Uribe (Richard Rios, 46), Jhon Arias (Jorge Carrascal, 62), James Rodríguez (Juan Fernando Quintero, 70) – Luis Díaz (Luis Sinisterra, 70) and Rafael Santos Borré (Jhon Jáder Durán, 62). DT: Néstor Lorenzo.
