Colombia 2 Ivory Coast 1
World Cup 2014Colombia James Rodriguez 64, Juan Fernando Quintero 70
Ivory Coast Yao Gervinho 73
Colombia's James Rodríguez, left, and Juan Cuadrado celebrate in the 2-1 win over Ivory Coast. Photograph: Paul Hanna/Reuters
José Pékerman continues to preach the importance of remaining calm but try telling that to a stadium full of Colombia supporters who have just witnessed their country win back-to-back World Cup matches for the first time in their history. This is the 1994 World Cup in reverse for Colombia and without getting carried away, it is tempting to wonder whether we are looking at a team capable of mounting a serious challenge at these finals.
There were some nervous moments to endure towards the end, after Gervinho pulled a goal back and Ivory Coast started to crank up the pressure, but Colombia held on to secure the three points that all but guarantee their place in the knockout stage. Two goals in the space of six second-half minutes, from the mercurial James Rodríguez and the substitute Juan Quintero, inflicted the damage on an afternoon when Juan Cuadrado demonstrated why he is one of the most coveted wingers in the world.
For Colombia’s colourful supporters, who painted the Estádio Nacional’s vertiginous stands yellow and effectively turned this into a home game for Pékerman and his players, it was an occasion to cherish. There were scenes of jubilation at the final whistle as the players returned to the centre of the pitch to acknowledge the tens of thousands of Colombia fans. Optimism abounds and Pékerman’s biggest challenge could be keeping a lid on expectations.
“It is a huge pleasure to see Colombia at this level, first of all coming to the World Cup after such a long period of time [since 1998], and then having two successive victories with players playing for the first time at a World Cup,” the Colombia manager said. “But we can’t start thinking ahead of time and the possibility of what is coming in the last 16.”
It would be stretching it a little to say that Colombia are not missing Radamel Falcao – it was impossible not to think of the injured striker when Teófilo Gutiérrez missed an absolute sitter in the first half – but it is measure of how much attacking talent Pékerman has within his squad that they remain a formidable force without the Monaco forward.
Rodríguez, who Pékerman predicted would “be one of the best players in this World Cup”, already has two goals to his name, the latest a thumping header that suggests he is more than a midfield artist. Quintero, who caught the eye at the Under-20 World Cup last year, came off the bench to register his first goal for Colombia. And then there is Cuadrado, who shimmered with menace throughout.
It was Rodríguez and Cuadrado who combined to create the gilt-edged chance that Gutiérrez squandered when the game was goalless. Cuadrado slid a perfectly weighted pass from right to left that released Rodríguez, whose clipped centre implored Gutiérrez to score from the edge of the six-yard box. Somehow the River Plate striker contrived to slice his miss-hit shot wide.
Ivory Coast were proving to be awkward opponents, just as Pékerman had predicted, but Colombia got the breakthrough they needed in the 64th minute. Cuadrado, who had hit the bar moments earlier after turning Arthur Boka, the Ivory Coast left-back, inside out, swung over a corner that Rodríguez headed home after climbing above Didier Drogba, who had just come off the substitutes’ bench.
Six minutes later Colombia had a second. Serey Die was dispossessed by Rodríguez, Gutiérrez released Quintero and the 21-year-old calmly stroked a low shot beyond Barry Boubacar. At that point it looked as though the game was up for Ivory Coast but Gervinho gave them late hope. Riding Juan Zúñiga’s weak challenge before stepping inside Carlos Sánchez, the former Arsenal forward beat Ospina at his near post.
It made for an anxious last 16 minutes for Colombia as Ivory Coast poured forward in desperate search of an equaliser. Mathis Bolly headed over and Salomon Kalou shot straight at David Ospina but Colombia refused to buckle, leaving Ivory Coast sweating on their place in the last 16 and Sabri Lamouchi facing a fresh inquest on his decision to once again leave Drogba out of his starting line-up.
“It’s only the second time he’s been on the bench,” the Ivory Coast coach said. “I’m not obsessed with Didier Drogba. If we look at the team, I’ve seen very interesting things from my players, it’s just a few details why we lost the game. We need to recover and go and fight for a victory against Greece. It’s very simple.”
José Pékerman continues to preach the importance of remaining calm but try telling that to a stadium full of Colombia supporters who have just witnessed their country win back-to-back World Cup matches for the first time in their history. This is the 1994 World Cup in reverse for Colombia and without getting carried away, it is tempting to wonder whether we are looking at a team capable of mounting a serious challenge at these finals.
There were some nervous moments to endure towards the end, after Gervinho pulled a goal back and Ivory Coast started to crank up the pressure, but Colombia held on to secure the three points that all but guarantee their place in the knockout stage. Two goals in the space of six second-half minutes, from the mercurial James Rodríguez and the substitute Juan Quintero, inflicted the damage on an afternoon when Juan Cuadrado demonstrated why he is one of the most coveted wingers in the world.
For Colombia’s colourful supporters, who painted the Estádio Nacional’s vertiginous stands yellow and effectively turned this into a home game for Pékerman and his players, it was an occasion to cherish. There were scenes of jubilation at the final whistle as the players returned to the centre of the pitch to acknowledge the tens of thousands of Colombia fans. Optimism abounds and Pékerman’s biggest challenge could be keeping a lid on expectations.
“It is a huge pleasure to see Colombia at this level, first of all coming to the World Cup after such a long period of time [since 1998], and then having two successive victories with players playing for the first time at a World Cup,” the Colombia manager said. “But we can’t start thinking ahead of time and the possibility of what is coming in the last 16.”
It would be stretching it a little to say that Colombia are not missing Radamel Falcao – it was impossible not to think of the injured striker when Teófilo Gutiérrez missed an absolute sitter in the first half – but it is measure of how much attacking talent Pékerman has within his squad that they remain a formidable force without the Monaco forward.
Rodríguez, who Pékerman predicted would “be one of the best players in this World Cup”, already has two goals to his name, the latest a thumping header that suggests he is more than a midfield artist. Quintero, who caught the eye at the Under-20 World Cup last year, came off the bench to register his first goal for Colombia. And then there is Cuadrado, who shimmered with menace throughout.
It was Rodríguez and Cuadrado who combined to create the gilt-edged chance that Gutiérrez squandered when the game was goalless. Cuadrado slid a perfectly weighted pass from right to left that released Rodríguez, whose clipped centre implored Gutiérrez to score from the edge of the six-yard box. Somehow the River Plate striker contrived to slice his miss-hit shot wide.
Ivory Coast were proving to be awkward opponents, just as Pékerman had predicted, but Colombia got the breakthrough they needed in the 64th minute. Cuadrado, who had hit the bar moments earlier after turning Arthur Boka, the Ivory Coast left-back, inside out, swung over a corner that Rodríguez headed home after climbing above Didier Drogba, who had just come off the substitutes’ bench.
Six minutes later Colombia had a second. Serey Die was dispossessed by Rodríguez, Gutiérrez released Quintero and the 21-year-old calmly stroked a low shot beyond Barry Boubacar. At that point it looked as though the game was up for Ivory Coast but Gervinho gave them late hope. Riding Juan Zúñiga’s weak challenge before stepping inside Carlos Sánchez, the former Arsenal forward beat Ospina at his near post.
It made for an anxious last 16 minutes for Colombia as Ivory Coast poured forward in desperate search of an equaliser. Mathis Bolly headed over and Salomon Kalou shot straight at David Ospina but Colombia refused to buckle, leaving Ivory Coast sweating on their place in the last 16 and Sabri Lamouchi facing a fresh inquest on his decision to once again leave Drogba out of his starting line-up.
“It’s only the second time he’s been on the bench,” the Ivory Coast coach said. “I’m not obsessed with Didier Drogba. If we look at the team, I’ve seen very interesting things from my players, it’s just a few details why we lost the game. We need to recover and go and fight for a victory against Greece. It’s very simple.”
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