WORLD CUP: Colombia close to round of sixteen
Group C after second-half goals from James
Rodriguez and Juan Fernando Quintero
secured a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast in
Brasilia.
Jose Pekerman’s side could now seal
qualification for the last-16 of the World Cup if
Japan fail to beat Greece later on Thursday
after Ivory Coast were unable to find an
equaliser after Gervinho had pulled a goal
back.
Teofilo Gutierrez missed the best chance of an
open first half for Colombia before Juan
Cuadrado’s shot was tipped onto the bar by
Boubacar Barry on 59 minutes.
Colombia, who beat Greece in their opening
game, took the lead on 64 minutes when
Cuadrado curled in a corner and Rodriguez
powered a header past Barry.
Just six minutes later, Colombia increased
their lead when Gutierrez slipped in Quintero
to finish past Barry for his first international
goal after Rodriguez had pinched possession.
Ivory Coast replied on 73 minutes through
Gervinho’s fine individual effort, but Colombia
held out to stand on the brink of a place in the
knockout rounds.
Pekerman named the same starting XI which
helped Colombia to defeat Greece 3-0, with
captain Mario Yepes earning his 100th cap,
while Ivory Coast again left talisman Didier
Drogba on the bench.
It was Colombia who made the more positive
opening, with Gutierrez firing wide from the
edge of the penalty area and Didier Zokora
needing to make an important block after
Cuadrado had got away down the right.
On 23 minutes, there was the first opening for
Ivory Coast when a powerful run from captain
Yaya Toure released Gervinho, but he was
quickly hustled off the ball.
Colombia should have been ahead on the half-
hour when a counter attack down the left saw
the ball played into the penalty area for
Gutierrez.
However, the River Plate forward, who looked
to be offside, made a complete hash of his
shot from six yards out and stabbed the ball
wide.
Ivory Coast full-back Serge Aurier, linked with
a summer move to Arsenal, sent in a low drive
from 18 yards, which was comfortably saved
by Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina.
At the start of the second half, English referee
Howard Webb waved away somewhat hopeful
penalty appeals from Ivory Coast after Roma
forward Gervinho went down under a
challenge from Yepes.
On 55 minutes, Zokora was shown a yellow
card for a late challenge on Cuadrado, which
meant the one-time Tottenham defender
would miss the final group match against
Japan.
An ambitious bicycle kick from Swansea
forward Wilfried Bony did not come off, before
at the other end, Cuadrado's shot was pushed
onto the bar by Ivory Coast goalkeeper Barry.
On the hour, Ivory Coast manager Sabri
Lamouchi made a change when Drogba
replaced Bony.
It was Colombia, though, who took the lead on
64 minutes when Monaco forward Rodriguez
headed home from a corner.
There was immediately a second substitution
for Ivory Coast as former Leicester and Leeds
wideman Max Gradel was replaced by ex-
Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou, however,
Colombia doubled their lead on 70 minutes
with a breakaway goal.
Gutierrez fed Quintero after Rodriguez had
closed down some poor Ivory Coast defending
on the half-way line, and the Porto forward
took the ball on to the edge of the penalty area
before drilling it past Barry.
Ivory Coast needed a response - and got one
through Gervinho's second goal of the World
Cup on 73 minutes.
The winger, much maligned during his spell
with Arsenal, collected the ball on the left and
weaved into the penalty area, rode three
challenges before smashing a shot inside the
near post which Ospina got a hand to but
could not keep out.
Ivory Coast were lifted by the goal, and went in
search of an equaliser, substitute Mathis Bolly
just unable to guide a diving header on target
before Kalou shot straight at the goalkeeper.
Drogba almost got on the end of a long
through ball during stoppage time, but Ospina
was out quickly to make a clearance, leaving
Ivory Coast probably needing victory in their
final group match against Greece to keep alive
chances of progress.
Comments
Post a Comment