The Colombian National Team defeated Costa Rica 3-0 in a match valid for the second day of Group D of the Copa América. The Tricolor played a high-level match with several protagonists, here we review them.
Camilo Vargas: He started playing to the limit in the clearance against the pressure that Costa Rica tried in the first minutes, then he had no further participation against the Colombian offensive power.
Daniel Munoz: He looked good on the wing, when he could he went deep, opening spaces for midfielders like Ríos at the time, he was the one who sent the long pass to Jhon Córdoba that ended in the penalty kick to open the scoring.
Davinson Sanchez: A great game was played, he had not been seen at that level in the National Team for a long time, he looked for Luis Díaz at the start with a long pass, then it was always important when he went on the attack until he scored. First with a shot he took after a corner kick, the ball went very close. Then, after a pass from Díaz, he dived in, but he could barely touch the ball when he was alone in front of the goal and finally, with a header after another corner kick that Arias took, he sent it to save.
Carlos Cuesta: He played a correct game, he knew how to do the easy thing by delivering the ball well to the feet of his teammates, in defense he had no major problem due to Colombia’s superiority over the rival.
Johan Mojica: He was a victim of the rough play, first with a stomp from Quiros and then after an elbow from Zamora. He knew how to clear at the start after one of the few attacks from Costa Rica, in attack he looked for Luis Díaz on his wing, one of his passes ended up in the hand of Juan Pablo Vargas and a dangerous free kick in his favor.
John Arias:He arrived in the area despite being seen playing very far back, especially in the first half. He opened up spaces inside the area to facilitate the arrival and movement of James and Díaz.
Jefferson Lerma:He played an intelligent game, always well positioned, he marked and balanced the team, when he had to enter the strong game he did.
Richard Rios: He was free to break free and attack when he could, he sent a poisonous cross to Díaz and in defence he blocked a shot that was heading straight for goal, he tried from long distance, but his shot was deflected to the corner. He was cautioned after a hard challenge on Ugalde, the caution was somewhat exaggerated. He left the field after the end of the first half.
Luis Diaz: He was the one his teammates looked for the most in attack, he overflowed as usual on the left and generated a lot of danger in the rival area. He left James and Dávinson inside the area so they could score and then when the penalty was given he asked James for the ball to take it and score with class, the ball went over the corner. Then after a pass from Jhon Córdoba he wasted it clearly, he wasted it by not finishing it first. Before leaving the field he gave a great pass to Yaser that almost ended in the fourth of the afternoon.
James Rodriguez: He excelled again, it was not his most brilliant game, but he knew how to control the game when they gave him the ball, his left-footed shot sent goalkeeper Sequeira flying spectacularly, who flew to the left. Then with his quality he took a free kick in a prepared play, Díaz received it and Dávinson clearly wasted it at the end. The captain’s magic appeared again in the second half when he gave the right assist to Jhon Córdoba, it was the final 3-0.
John Cordoba: He was the figure of the match, he fought between the centre-backs like a tank, he served as a pivot for Díaz and Arias, he almost scored with a header after a corner kick and he was the one who goalkeeper Cavbezazo met after a corner kick. They committed a penalty in the 28th minute between goalkeeper Sequeira and Calvo and Colombia scored the first after the action. In the second half he left Díaz in the area to score, but the winger wasted and put the finishing touch to his presentation with a great goal. James Rodríguez enabled him with a great pass and defined with a superb shot that hit the Tico goalkeeper.
Matheus Uribe: He came on for Ríos in the second half and did not have any major setbacks in his marking position.
Kevin Chestnut: He replaced Lerma in the 71st minute, shot without much power from the edge of the area and did not disappoint in the team while he was on the field.
Yaser Asprilla: He came on for James in the 71st minute and had a very clear chance after a pass from Díaz where he shot from the half-moon area and the ball went very close to the right upright of goalkeeper Sequeira.
Santos Borré: entered by Jhon Córdoba.
John Duran: He replaced Luis Diaz.
