Colombia secured their spot in the Copa America quarterfinals with a decisive 3-0 victory over Costa Rica on Friday. The match, held at State Farm Stadium in front of 27,386 passionate Colombian fans, showcased Colombia's dominance and strategic prowess.
Davinson Sánchez and Jhon Córdoba each found the back of the net within minutes of each other in the second half, extending Colombia’s unbeaten streak to 25 games. Luis Diaz opened the scoring with a penalty kick in the 31st minute, giving Colombia a 1-0 lead at halftime.
Throughout the game, Colombia maintained control with 62 percent possession and outshot Costa Rica 14-5. The team’s relentless pressure paid off as they dominated the field from start to finish, leaving Costa Rica struggling to create any significant opportunities.
Colombia now looks ahead to their next challenge against Brazil on Tuesday in Santa Clara, California, as they aim to close out the group stage on a high note. Coach Néstor Lorenzo praised his team’s performance, stating, \"Today was a game we dominated from start to finish.\"
In contrast, Costa Rica faced another tough opponent after their surprising draw with Brazil. Coach Gustavo Alfaro acknowledged the disparity, saying, \"The other team was clearly on another level.\" Despite their efforts, Costa Rica couldn’t capitalize on their chances and were unable to mount a comeback.
Colombia's impressive form continues as they head into the quarterfinals, aiming to build on their recent successes and make a deep run in the tournament.
Reference(s):
Colombia dominate Costa Rica 3-0 to reach Copa America quarterfinals
cgtn.com
