Colombia v Uruguay
28.06.14 - Rio De Janeiro
There's only two J Rodriguez, two J Rodriguez etc...
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No Gastón for Uruguay, which was disappointing, as was the fact that this is on ITV, so a couple of buffoons would be babbling throughout the game, and it wasn't B and me. Thankfully Rodriguez and Zapata were playing for Columbia.
Townsend started by declaring that no one likes Uruguay, well I have nothing against them at all and I'm not judging a whole squad on the actions of one man. Having said that, I want Columbia to win.
First thoughts; the ref was a bit camp and his red shirt was possibly a little too tight, but at least he wasn't Howard Webb. Clive Tiddles pronounces Colombia's Rodriguez's first name as James, and not Hamez.
The game started off at a frantic pace, neither side settled early although after 15 minutes or so Colombia started to try and get their slick passing game going. On twenty minutes they tried one of those sneaky short corners where one player touches it then then walks away and another, Rodriguez, walks over and then runs in towards the box with the ball. Perfectly ok, but he officials made them retake it. Dopey buggers.
Uruguay sat back and let Colombia have the ball, denying them any space so it was difficult of them to get any prolonged passing going. Then on 27 minutes Rodriguez scored an absolute screamer. He controlled the ball on his chest about 20 metres out, spun and volleyed it, all in one movement. The keeper managed to get a finger tip to it but was never going to save it as it hit the underside of the bar before flying into the net. It was a truly fantastic goal.
Forlan and Yepes, the two oldest men on the pitch, squared up to each other after a collision in the area, there was some pushing and shoving, a bit of shouting and a camp man in a tight red shirt trying to calm everything down. It was the most Forlan did in the first half. At least Uruguay had started to launch some attacks of their own.
And that was basically it for the first half.
Four minutes into the second half 'Hamez' Rodriguez rounded off a nice Columbia attack by slotting home from inside the 6 yard box after a cross was superbly headed back to him by Cuadrado.
Almost immediately Gastón was brought on as Uruguay made a double substitution. Forlan was one of those that went off, I'd forgotten he was still on. Uruguay started going forward more, but were also flying into tackles, with Rodriguez suffering from a couple of heavy challenges.
Uruguay's Rodriguez (Christian) had a fine run through the middle but his long range shot was well saved. Gastón was getting himself involved, but they couldn't break through, and Colombia still looked the most dangerous.
Gastón kicked Amero up in the air when he didn't retreat quick enough as Ramírez wanted to take a quick free kick. It was quite a kicking, but not malicious, and Amero was the one actually booked. Uruguay looked a better side with Gastón on the pitch, and both Cavani and Maxi Pereira brought good saves out of Ospina, the Colombian goalkeeper. But that was about it for them and after three minutes of added on time it was over. Colombia go though to face Brazil, and that should be a great game.
Colombia are still my favourite team in this World Cup.
OneBeat
Colombia
01 Ospina
18 Zuñiga
07 Armero - Booked
08 Aguilar
02 Zapata
03 Yepes
11 Cuadrado (Guarín, 81')
06 Sánchez
21 Martínez
09 Gutiérrez (Mejía, 68')
10 Rodríguez (Ramos, 85')
Substitutes
04 Arias
05 Carbonero
12 Vargas
13 Guarín
14 Ibarbo
15 Mejía
16 Balanta
17 Bacca
19 Ramos
20 Quintero
22 Mondragón
23 Valdés
Uruguay
01 Muslera
16 Maxi Pereira
06 Pereira (Ramírez, 53')
22 Cáceres
03 Godín
13 Giménez - Booked
20 González (Hernández, 67')
17 Arévalo Rios
10 Forlán (Stuani, 53')
21 Cavani
07 Rodríguez
Substitutes
02 Lugano
04 Fucile
05 Gargano
08 Hernández
11 Stuani
12 Muñoz
14 Lodeiro
15 Pérez
18 Ramírez
19 Coates
23 Silva
Colombia
2
- Rodríguez 28′, 50′
Uruguay
0
Ref: Björn Kuipers
Att: 73,804
Possession
- Colombia: 51%
- Uruguay 49%
Shots
- Colombia 9
- Uruguay 16
On Target
- Colombia 4
- Uruguay 4
Corners
- Colombia 3
- Uruguay 5
Fouls
- Colombia 19
- Uruguay 17