Colombia Defeats Japan, 4-1
CUIABA, Brazil — James Rodríguez scored a brilliant goal and set up two more for Jackson Martínez as Colombia routed Japan, 4-1, on Tuesday to clinch the top spot inGroup C and eliminate the Asian champions from the World Cup.
Already assured of advancing, Colombia guaranteed first place with its third straight win, setting up a second-round match against Uruguay.
The Colombians started with a virtual second-string lineup but still went in front when Juan Cuadrado — one of the few regular starters — drilled in a 17th-minute penalty kick.
Japan equalized with the last touch of the first half through Shinji Okazaki’s header, but Martinez scored in the 55th and 82nd minutes — both from superb passes from Rodríguez, a substitute — to put the result beyond doubt.
Rodríguez capped it off with his stunning solo goal in the 89th minute, turning his marker inside out before beating the advancing goalkeeper with a deft chip. That made it nine goals for Colombia in the group stage.
The introduction of Rodríguez tilted the game back Colombia’s way after Japan finished the first half stronger, with Okazaki’s goal having given Coach Alberto Zaccheroni’s side a slim chance of progressing.
Although Japanese fans will have been keeping one eye on the match being played simultaneously between Ivory Coast and Greece in Fortaleza, their players had only one mission: win 3 points and see if that would be enough.
That plan had a bad start, with Japan falling behind to a penalty kick that was given away by Konno, who lunged into a challenge on Adrian Ramos.
Despite Japan’s protests, it was a clear foul, and Cuadrado had no difficulty converting the spot kick.
The goal left Japan susceptible to the counterattack as it pushed forward in search of two goals.
At the other end, there was a lack of cutting edge — Shinji Kagawa had a weak shot saved and Keisuke Honda wasted three free kicks from good positions — before Honda crossed for Okazaki to head in at the near post with what was the last touch of the half.
Rodríguez, one of many regulars rested at the start by Coach Jose Pekerman, was introduced for the second half. He made an immediate difference, livening up the crowd and the team’s attacking play with his turn of speed and precision passing.
Within 10 minutes, he had created Martínez’s goal, running onto the ball and making a deft pass. That allowed Martínez to take one touch and shoot left-footed low into the corner.
Martínez made it 3-1 with a curling left-foot finish, this time off a reverse pass from Rodríguez.
FULL-TIME
HALF-TIME
No comments:
Post a Comment