3-0: Colombia breaks through Costa Rica’s wall and is in the quarterfinals

Colombia defeated Costa Rica with authority on the second day of Group D of the Copa América and sealed its qualification for the quarterfinals. A goal from Luis Díaz from a penalty after half an hour of the first half broke the deadlock and brought the match down. At the start, the coffee planters took the hammer and ended the contest with goals from Davinson Sánchez and Córdoba in just three minutes.

Gustavo Alfaro’s team surprised Brazil in the first match with a defensive approach that dried up the powder of the canarinha (0-0) but a mistake by Ibiza goalkeeper Patrick Siqueira ruined Costa Rica’s hopes. The goalkeeper made a mistake at the start and sent Córdoba ahead. Luis Díaz, a Liverpool winger in Barcelona’s orbit, was unforgiving from the eleven meters.

Until the match broke, Colombia sweated ink to understand the structure of Costa Rica’s defense, in a copy of the frustration that engulfed Vinicius and company a few days before. James was a bit involved between the lines as his left foot threatened set pieces. Luis Díaz, the great agitator of the coffee attack, waged war on himself with more determination than clairvoyance.

The game took a long time to get going and the first chance was not seen until the 20th minute. James Rodríguez found himself in a good position to flick his privileged left foot but Sequeira guessed his intention and avoided 1-0 with a fine stretch. Costa Rica’s first strategy was the work of Warren Madrigal and on the next play came the penalty converted by Díaz.

At the restart Costa Rica advanced lines in search of an equalizer but barely threatened Camilo Vargas and Colombia, with space to run and a clairvoyant Lerma in creation, smelled blood and did not forgive. In just three minutes, Néstor Lorenzo’s team ended the contest. Davinson Sánchez took advantage of a great corner kick from Arias to make it 2-0 with a header (59′) and with Costa Rica groggy, James called Córdoba one-on-one to make it 3-0 (63′).

With the match decided, Costa Rica chose to protect itself so as not to aggravate the wound and Colombia saw the opportunity to give the most important players a rest while thinking about the quarterfinals. James, Luis Díaz, Lerma or Córdoba were paraded to the bench in the final stretch and the scoreboard never moved again.