The Colombian National Team started its participation in the Copa América on the right foot by defeating Paraguay 2-1 on the first day of Group D, a match that was played at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
The Tricolor team had a great performance, being superior to its rival and maintaining a high level in several of its players, highlighting James Rodríguez with two goal assists.
Camilo Vargas: Little work from the goalkeeper against a team that attacked very little and created few scoring opportunities. He was brilliant with two saves that kept his goal clean. In the Paraguayan discount he was not compromised.
Daniel Muñoz: Great game from the winger who opened the scoring with a great goal from a header. The Antioqueño did a good job in the defensive aspect, but allowed the center to rise that ended in Paraguay’s stoppage time. On the offensive side, he always accompanied the attacks on the right wing, partnering with James and Richard Ríos.
Dávinson Sánchez: Good work during the game, containing the few attacks of the Guaraní team, without making crucial errors. In Paraguay’s goal he could not deflect the center that ended up in the back of the net.
John Lucumí: Good start from the defender, who made a perfect closing down the right wing and contained with his body a shot that was in danger of scoring. In that last play he was injured and had to be replaced by Yerry Mina.
Johan Mojica: He did not have many problems containing the few Paraguayan attacks, however, he was compromised in stoppage time because he was not in his zone where the Guaraní player appeared to score with a shot from his right foot. In attack he was very participative, always looking to go deeper with Luis Díaz on the left wing. His exits were not as deep and he failed to do any damage with his crosses.
John Arias: Silent, but good work in both facets of the game. In defense, he always covered his zone and recovered several balls with great sacrifice. In Colombia’s first goal he put pressure on the opponent, recovered the ball and then gave it to James to shoot the cross that ended with Muñoz’s header.
Jefferson Lerma: The midfielder scored the second goal for the Colombian National Team with a header inside the area after a free kick from James Rodríguez. Good in defense, without many setbacks against Paraguay’s offensive players. He was given a yellow card for committing a foul in midfield, cutting off a dangerous attack from the rival.
Richard Ríos: One of the best players in Colombia, with a splendid display all over the field, helping in defense on the right side, doing dubbing or covering Daniel Muñoz’s back. In attack, he was one of the clearest, going down the right wing, where he won in direct duels, he threw crosses, he teamed up with his teammates and created a lot of danger with his overflows to the back of the net.
Luis Díaz: A lot of sacrifice from the winger who could not shine in Colombia’s debut due to Paraguay’s sticky brand. The guajiro was guarded by several players and it was very difficult for him to face and win the wing to finish the plays with a cross or shots on goal. For this reason, he ended up very anxious, making bad decisions in some of the Tricolor’s counterattacks.
James Rodríguez: The best player on the field by giving assists on the goals of Daniel Muñoz and Jefferson Lerma. He was a little erratic in delivering the ball, finishing with an 88 percent accuracy in delivering the ball. However, his left foot was lethal with many passes that could have ended in goals.
Rafael Santos Borré: The lowest level in Néstor Lorenzo’s eleven. A lot of sacrifice to not let the Paraguayan defenders leave, a function that he fulfilled brilliantly. In attack he did not have much participation, without being able to finish on goal.
Yerry Mina: He entered after John Lucumí’s injury and had no major problems controlling the Paraguayan attacks. He was practical when defending, clearing the ball and entering the collision when necessary.
Matheus Uribe: He entered in the second half when the game was 2-0 to replace Jefferson Lerma who had a yellow card. He fulfilled the same function as the Crystal Palace midfielder without major setbacks.
John Córdoba: He entered in the second half to replace Rafael Santos Borré to try to seal the victory for Colombia, but he did not have much participation in the offensive plays, without being able to finish on goal.
