How can we not be excited about this Colombian team? Néstor Lorenzo’s team played a great game in Glendale, Arizona, in the midst of high temperatures, in front of 27,386 spectators, mostly dressed in yellow, who enjoyed one of the best games of the Argentine’s era.
It was a resounding 3-0, which could have been more, against a Costa Rica that ran out of arguments as soon as it received the first goal, which already puts it in the quarterfinals of the Copa América.
Colombia had to be patient, because Costa Rica once again gave up the ball and decided to hold on in their field, to put together a block of nine players and turn the surroundings of their goal into a minefield. So we had to avoid in any way the despair that Brazil fell into on the first date, which cost them not being able to start with victory.
Colombia gave the first warning early on: in the 6th minute, Luis Díaz had a chance with a header after a cross from Ríchard Ríos. The field was leaning towards the Costa Rican goal. In the 20th minute, in a play that started in the Colombian box, James Rodríguez, who was celebrating ten years since his double against Uruguay, had the chance to score after a great play by Díaz, who got to the back of the box and sent a pass to the edge of the area: the shot from the ’10’ made goalkeeper Sequeira fly.
The goal was about to come. At 24, Dávinson Sánchez failed to catch a rebound and throw the ball over the goal. And at 28, finally, there was the opportunity to open the scoring, with a great shot from Daniel Muñoz to Jhon Córdoba: when the striker already seemed to be controlled by Francisco Calvo, the goalkeeper, who had come out for nothing, ended up running over him. Clear penalty, which Luis Díaz converted into a goal in a great way, hanging the ball at an angle while the goalkeeper went to the other post, at 31.
That first half could have ended with one more goal in their favour. Dávinson Sánchez missed it again, after a great cross from James that Díaz brought down into the six-yard box: the Galatasaray defender arrived late and was unable to connect.
Colombia’s calmness helps increase the score against Costa Rica
After 135 minutes of the Cup in which they did not make a single shot on goal, Costa Rica finally remembered that there was a different goal than the one they were guarding. With the entry of veteran Joel Campbell and Joseph Mora, coach Gustavo Alfaro changed his mind a little.
However, now it was Colombia that was putting Costa Rica in its own area. The second goal was ripe. And it came in an action that is becoming characteristic of the National Team, the offensive aerial game: of the 43 goals that the team has scored in the Lorenzo era, 11 have been headers. Now, the one who scored was Dávinson Sánchez, after a great collection by Jhon Arias, in the 59th minute.
Costa Rica, with nothing to defend, found itself disoriented on the field and exposed to being scored on. And it happened very quickly, at 62, in a play that was born from a good pass by Jefferson Lerma, who joined James Rodriguez. The ’10’ had the vision to put in, with his less skilled leg, the right, a spectacular assist to Jhon Cordoba, who ran into the gap and shot across the goal to beat Sequeira and turn the game into a rout.
Jhon Córdoba celebrates Colombia’s third goal.
Photo:Christian Alvarez
Colombia had time to give minutes to the youngsters
The wide difference in the score gave Lorenzo a chance to test his skills. At half-time, he had already taken out Richard Rios to protect him after receiving a yellow card: Mateus Uribe came on in his place. Then, the coach began to bring in fresh blood: Kevin Castaño and Yaser Asprilla, two of those called to take over in the future, replaced Lerma and James, who, once again, was applauded.
Later, Lorenzo gave the attack a new lease of life with Rafael Santos Borré and Jhon Jáder Durán, to the applause of Lucho and Córdoba, who had been cautioned in the play that ended in his goal, for taking off his shirt in celebration. It turned out to be a dress rehearsal with the public for the team that will take over the future when the established players leave.
It was a great game for Colombia, with great individual performances and a collective performance that gives us hope. But, as Marcelo Bielsa said when talking about Uruguay, the hardest part has not yet begun. First comes Brazil, on Tuesday, at the close of the first phase. And then, the quarter-finals, where the Cup will really begin. Neither the unbeaten run of 25 games (22 with Lorenzo) nor what has been done so far will count there. But with this level, why not get excited…
Statistics of the game between Colombia and Costa Rica
Colombia vs. Costa Rica Statistics
Photo:SofaScore
Jose Orlando Ascencio
Sports Deputy Editor
@josasc
