Colombia won their first game in the World Cup since 2002
when they beat Greece 3-0 in their group C opener of this year’s FIFA World
Cup. Thanks to goals from left back Pablo Armero, Teofilo Gutierrez and James
Rodriguez.
A Sunny Saturday afternoon at the Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte
[Brazil] as the South coast of Brazil witnessed it first game of the FIFA World
cup between a South American country and a European country. The fifth game of
the 2014 World Cup.
Colombia started very promising pushing forward at the
early stages of the game. They looked like an attacking minded team moving
forward in numbers.
The Tricolor’s shot themselves in front just within 5
minutes when left back Pablo Armero scored what seem like a curious goal after
he received a nice pass from Juan Cuadrado from the right side of attack after a wonderful demy by James Rodriguez in
the penalty box to ooze the ball past Orestis Karnezis in post for the Greeks.
Greece almost responded under one minute after conceding when
Panagiotis Kone saw his strike go wide
in the 6th minutes. The Greeks after conceding looked more
purposeful among the two sides as they began to pull threats up front. James
Rodriguez long rang strike for Colombia in the 17th minutes was save
by Karnezis . In the 25th minute Colombia midfielder Carlos Sanchez
became the first to go into the books of referee Mark Geiger when he recklessly
pulled a tackle on Greece midfielder Kostas Katsouranis.
Greece still kept the ball to themselves as they piled the
pressure on the South Americans enjoying the greater percentage of possession
after the half hour mark. In the 33rd minutes Greece striker Giorgos
Samaras had his effort saved by David Ospina in post for Colombia. Cuadrado had
his long rang shot fly way off target in the 35th minute. Greece
still looked very ambitious as they fought their way forward in search of the
equalizer.
A descent header from Greece midfielder Vasileios Torosidis
went agonizingly wide in the 37th minute. In the 39th
minute, a good run from Greece midfielder Panagiotis Kone after beating two
markers was timely cleared from the danger zone. Colombia should have shot themselves
two goals up in the 40th minutes after a counter break but the Greek
defence did what was needed clearing their lines. Cuadrado became the guilty
party in the 44th minutes when he volleyed the ball way over the bar
after a perfect in-swinger.
A lovely leaping stop from Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina
in just at the stroke of half time saw Colombia maintain their lead after an excellent
strike from Kone. After 2 minutes of additional time the referee blew his whistle
to bring the first half to an end. An intriguing first half full of exciting
football.
Back from the break, Greece were eager to get the equalizer as they took off from
where they left attacking the Colombians at the early stages of the second
half. Samaras was fortunate not to have gone into the books of the referee in the
47th minutes when he tried to get the sympathy of the referee by
throwing himself down in the penalty box appealing for a penalty . Rodriguez had his tested left
footed shot saved by the Greece goalkeeper just a minutes later.
Greece almost got the equalizer in the 52nd minute
when Theofanis Gekas cross failed to get a simple touch from his team mate.
Greece defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos became the first Greek player to receive
a booking after bringing down Colombia attacker Victor Ibarbo on the edge of
the box. Dimitris Sapigidis also got into the books of the referee when he
brought Armero down in frustration. Greece coach Fernando Santos inserted his
first substitution in the 56th minutes when striker Ioannis Fetfatzidis
came on for Salpigidis. Colombia got their second goal through Teofilo
Gutierrez in the 58th minutes after tapping the ball into the net
with his left foot to get his 15th goal for his country following a
swift cross from Rodriguez as the Colombia fans burst into ecstasy. Their team
is two goals up. An unlucky moment for Greece in the 63rd when
attacker Theofanis Gekas had his free header hit the upright after a first time
touch from Maniatis. Greece inserted
their second change when Kostas Mitroglou came on for Gekas in the 64th
minutes.
Colombia Coach Jose Pakerman in the 68th minutes
brought on Alexander Mejia for Abel Aguilar to help stabilize the midfield. A
brave piece of goalkeeping from Ospina in the 70th minute after a thunderous
strike from Jose Cholevas to keep his side in a 2-0 lead. Goal scorer Pablo Armero was sacrificed for
Santiago Arias. Colombia always looked dangerous whenever the burst forward on
the break. Pakerman again brought on Porto forward Jackson Martinez for second goal
scorer Gutierrez in the 75th minutes. Greece coach Fernando Santos brought on
his most experienced player as 37 year old Georgios Karagounis came on` for Panagiotis
Kone who has had a tiring game for his side. Colombia under no pressure kept
the ball to themselves pulling out some good passes. Samaras accurate delivered
strike just missed the post by inches 6 minutes from time.
Colombia still showed threat at the dying embers of the
game as they kept on galloping down the lines with the counter breaks. The
Colombian fans could not hold their joy as they sang the famous Ole! Ole! Song in
bliss.
James Rodriguez shot his side into a 3-0 lead late in the
game when he perfectly smashed the ball to beat Greece goalkeeper Karnezis.
Their first ever at the World Cup since 2002. The biggest win they have chalked
in World Cup history. Colombia thrush Greece in an inventive game which saw
football full of thrills and exhilaration.
Colombia
Starting XI: David
Ospina, Mario Yepes, Cristian Zapata, Pablo Armero/Santiago Vargas, Juan
Zuniga, James Rodriguez, Carlos Sanchez, Teofilo Gutierrez/ Marinez, Abel
Aguilar/Mejia, Victor Ibarbo, Juan Cuadrado.
Greece
Starting XI: Orestis,
Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Kostas Manolas, Jose Cholevas, Vasilleios Torosidis,
Kostas Kotsouranis, Panagiotis Kone/Karagounis, Ioannis Maniatis/Mitriglou,
Theofanis Gekas/ Fetfatzidis, Giorgos Samaras, Dimitris Salpigidis.
By
Frank Darkwah
Follow Frank Darkwah on twitter.@Blaqqkoffi
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