Colombia striving for perfect nine
The host nation has been in unstoppable form so far at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Colombia 2011 and will be out to seal first place in Group A when they meet Korea Republic in Bogota in their final group game. Victory will give them a perfect record of nine points out of nine and first place in the section, while the South Koreans, who lie second, are hoping for a ticket to the knockout rounds.
The game
Colombia-Korea Republic, Friday 5 August, Bogota, 20.00 (local time)
The stakes
Opponents Korea Republic have played well in spells but only have a victory over Mali to show for their efforts. Coach Lee Kwang-Jong is aware they will have to up their game for what is a decisive clash: “We need to improve if we want to qualify, and though we want to win, we also know that a draw will virtually take us through, which is what we’re fighting for.”
The stat
43 - The number of matches Korea Republic will have played in the FIFA U-20 World Cup when they take on Colombia. To date they have won 12, drawn 10 and lost 20 of their matches in the competition.
The words
“We’re not playing the next round yet. We still have one game to go and we want to win the group so we can stay in Bogota. We’ve seen a lot of videos of them and we’ve also analysed the two games they’ve played here. They’re a strong side that works and fights hard for the whole 90 minutes. We’ll need to keep our wits about us,” Colombia coach Eduardo Lara.
“I don’t think Colombia are that strong a footballing team, even though they will be at home. My boys really know how to play as a team, as you’ll see for yourselves. We’re looking to do better than in 2009, and we hope to make the semis,” Korea Republic coach Lee Kwang-Jong, speaking after the Final Draw in April.
Colombia beat Mali, reach last 16
Colombia overcame Mali 2-0 to become the first team to reach the knockout phase of this FIFA U-20 World Cup. The hosts, roared on by a passionate crowd in Bogota, took a first-half lead through Jose Valencia before James Rodriguez sealed victory late on.
Colombia are top of Group A on six points, followed by Korea Republic and France on three apiece, and Mali on zero. Los Cafeteros will take on the Asians in their final first-phase outing, while Les Bleuets meet the African underdogs.
The atmosphere was electric as the two teams entered the field to the vociferous roar of the vuvuzelas. Colombia went straight on the attack, but it took them until 13 minutes to carve out their first chance. Luis Muriel's effort was punched away by Cheick Abdul Cadry Sy, and James Rodriguez fired the rebound wide from a good position.
Muriel could have fed Rodriguez on 22 minutes, but he greedily chose to shoot and failed to trouble the Malian keeper. However, within no time at all the hosts made the breakthrough. Michael Ortega lobbed the ball superbly into the path of Valencia, who side-stepped Sy and shot. A defender managed to block the effort, but the Colombia No20 made no mistake at the second attempt to the delight of the crowd.
That seemed to spark Mali into life. Kalifa Toure blasted a shot high and wide from just outside the box, Kalifa Coulibaly wasted another opportunity, and Adama Toure failed to trouble Cafatero No1 Cristian Bonilla from a free-kick right on the edge of the box.
Within two minutes of the restart, Bonilla had exercised all his athleticism to deny a 20-yard Cheick Fanta Mady Diarra strike that seemed destined for the top corner.
Rodriguez was very much Colombia's danger man, and the Porto playmaker had three shots on goal, the last of which went just inches wide, before a Toure scorcher from distance called Bonilla into action again.
Traore was sent off on 89 minutes, effectively ending Mali's challenge. And just to make sure of a maximum haul for Colombia, Rodriguez tucked home after a neat pass from Javier Calle.
Two matches played; two memorable nights for Colombians.
Rampant Colombia brush aside France
Fourteen youngsters in yellow jerseys, and an insightful 51-year-old, inspired one of the most unforgettable nights in Colombian football history in Bogota tonight. As hosts of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, they desperately coveted a winning start to their Group A campaign against European champions France. Los Cafeteros didn't just get that victory, they got a resounding one, with a double from Luis Muriel, a James Rodriguez penalty and a Santiago Arias strike earning them a come-from-behind 4-1 defeat of one of the pre-tournament favourites.
The result sent Colombia top of Group A, on goal difference from Korea Republic, who overcame Mali 2-0 earlier today.
There was an inimitable atmosphere at the Estadio Nemesio Camacho leading up to kick-off, and Colombia enhanced it by making an exhilarating start to the game. With just two minutes on the clock, they were inches from going in front, Michael Ortega's vicious long-ranger smashing against the crossbar.
Goalkeeper Cristian Bonilla made an admirable save from France forward Antoine Griezmann on eight minutes, before the South Americans responded through strikes by Didier Moreno and Jose Valencia.
Against the run of play, though, France opened the scoring. Gilles Sunu masterfully eluded his marker before unleashing a thumping shot which Bonilla got fingertips to but couldn't keep out. It provoked silence.
Colombia restored parity on the half-hour mark. Rodriguez's brilliant pass sent Arias into the box, and the No4 was upended by Kalidou Koulibaly. Rodriguez, the Porto entertainer, sent Ligali the wrong way from the spot.
On the stroke of half-time, Ortega found himself in a one-on-one situation with Ligali, but the France keeper made a fine save with his legs.
Three minutes. That is all Colombia need to assume the lead following the restart. An Ortega back-heel freed Muriel, who slipped past his man and slotted the ball home to deafening cheers.
Bonilla then frustrated Griezmann again with two marvelous saves, though the former must have resigned himself to conceding a second goal when France substitute Alexandre Lacazette skipped round him and faced an empty net. Inconceivably, however, the No19 missed the target.
Colombia immediately punished that miss, with Arias arriving at the back post to make it 3-1. It was soon four, Muriel latching on to an Ortega through-ball to thump the ball past Ligali.
It could, and should, have been 5-1 on 73 minutes. Muriel outfoxed Sebastien Faure with some mesmerizing trickery, and was duly fouled inside the penalty area. However, Rodriguez's resulting spot-kick was saved.
Did it spoil the euphoric mood? Not one iota. This was a night those present will be reminiscing about for a long time to come.
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