The Colombia national team debuted this Monday with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Paraguay in the Copa America 2024 at NRG Stadium in Houston. With this victory, Colombia positioned itself as the sole leader of Group D, after the heroic 0-0 draw that Costa Rica snatched from Brazil at the Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles.
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Driven by James Rodríguez, who shone with two assists, the Colombian goals came through headers from Daniel Muñoz (31) and Jefferson Lerma (42). The atmosphere in the stadium was electrifying, with a yellow tide of Colombian fans that packed the stands, creating an unparalleled atmosphere.
Paraguay’s goal, scored by its young star Julio Enciso at 69 minutes, added tension to the final stretch of the match, but the Paraguayan effort was not enough to snatch the tie from Colombia. This victory extended Colombia’s unbeaten streak to 24 games, an impressive achievement for the team led by Néstor Lorenzo.
Changes for the next game?
However, despite the victory, not everything was celebration for the Colombian fans. On social media and discussion forums, many fans expressed concerns about certain aspects of the team, especially defense. J’s injuryHon Lucumí forced the entry of Yerry Mina, but it was Johan Mojica who took most of the criticism.
In Enciso’s goal, Mojica was not well positioned. At the moment of the crossed cross, two Paraguayan players were left completely alone, and the left back did not appear in the box. Furthermore, throughout the match, Mojica did not show his usual ability to exit and overflow down the left wing, which reduced the team’s offensive options.
These shortcomings have led many fans and some experts to ask that Deiber Machado be the starter on the left wing for the next game against Costa Rica. The general opinion is that Machado could offer greater defensive solidity and attacking dynamism, elements that will be crucial against a Costa Rican team that showed its potential by drawing with Brazil.
In post-match statements, Mojica acknowledged the difficulty of the match: “We know that Paraguay is a very complex rival. Having won 2-0 in the first half, it was normal for them to come out in the second half with all the intensity of wanting to tie the match. We knew it was going to be that complicated.” Despite the criticism, Mojica defended the team’s character: “We were able to have that hierarchy that is needed in this type of games and win the first game, which is quite important.”
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The next test for Colombia will be on Friday in Glendale, Arizona, when they face Costa Rica at 5 p.m. A victory would ensure a place in the quarterfinals, while three hours later, Brazil and Paraguay will meet in Las Vegas in a crucial match for their tournament aspirations.
