PASADENA, CA – In a dominating performance at the Rose Bowl, goals from Carlos Bacca and James Rodriguez were able to give Colombia a 2-1 victory against Paraguay to send them to the quarterfinals of the Copa America Centenario.
Dominant Colombia side
In the first half, Colombia was able to take advantage of the opportunity that they had with having James Rodriguez back in the starting 11 when many thought that the shoulder injury that he suffered only four days before against the hosts, the United States, would have left him out of the match in Pasadena. Still, they relied on consistent passing within all levels in the pitch, while Paraguay continued to look aggressive while being calm and composed.
Inside in the sixth minute, a James free kick went wide out of Justo Villar’s goal that didn’t attribute to nothing even with players in the box. Three minutes later, James picked up the ball following a clearance from Gustavo Gomez, but the Real Madrid midfielder's shot went wide to the left of Justo Villar’s goal. In the 11th minute, James picked up the ball on the left and with a cross, looking for someone to finish, Miguel Samudio was able to head it out for a corner.
Following another corner just seconds later, the ball was played from James to Carlos Bacca and his header was powered in for a goal to draw Colombia first blood, in what turned out to be a beautiful set piece and to give Los Cafeteros a 1-0 lead. Completely overpowering La Albirroja, another big chance came when Bacca again tested Villar onto goal, but the Colo Colo man was able to make a class save to take it out for a throw-in.
In the 29th minute, following a counter attack, James Rodriguez made it 2-0 to Colombia. Following a few build up plays into the box, Bacca was able to play the ball to the Real Madrid midfielder on the left, who ended up smashing the ball on the left past Villar to double their lead.
In the 34th minute, in the first big chance for Paraguay, they thought they scored their first goal of the match off an Oscar Romero free kick, but Paulo Da Silva’s header was disallowed by referee Heber Lopes. Seconds later, another big chance for Colombia came when the ball was played from Bacca on the left but his effort goes way right of Villar’s goal. The final big chance came in the last seconds of the first half when Dario Lezcano's free kick hit the woodwork that was managed by David Ospina. All and all, it became a first half completely dominated by the Colombians in all sections of the pitch while the Paraguayan side looked very astray and beaten, making it hard for them to stop the fast-paced South Americans.
Different Second Half
In the second half, Paraguay opted to use a more defensive formation with a 3-5-2. The first big chance just seconds into the remaining 45 when Bacca’s shot again went wide to the left of Villar’s goal. In the 52nd minute, Victor Ayala was given the chance with a free kick from about 30 yards or so, but the Lanus midfielder’s shot went up and wide Ospina’s goal. Three minutes later, Ayala’s corner was played to Gustavo Gomez but his attempt on goal attributed to nothing and only a Colombia goal kick. In the 61st minute, off an Ayala corner kick, Paulo Da Silva went in for a header onto goal, but Ospina was able to punch it and parry it out of play to deny Paraguay their first of the match.
In the 70th minute, Paraguay finally got their first goal from Ayala. The Lanus man picked up the ball from roughly 25 yards and was able to send a bullet strike over the top of Ospina’s goal to get one back for La Albirroja. Seconds later, James also a had a chance to score Colombia’s third but his shot went wide of Villar’s goal.
In the 78th minute, Ayala’s free kick from the left denied a Paraguayan equalizer as the Arsenal goalkeeper was able to make a clear great save off the set piece. In the 81st minute, Rodriguez again with a shot on goal had his shot denied by the post and was denied of Colombia's third, especially now with 10 men on the pitch with the sending off of Oscar Romero.
In the end, Colombia was able to get the three points and are now looking to secure their first place spot in their group against Costa Rica in Houston on Saturday. Paraguay on the other hand, is looking for life and a battle for second place against the hosts, the United States in Philadelphia.