Colombia 4 (Juan Cuadrado 1, Jackson Martinez 2, Rodriguez 1): Japan 1(Shniji Okazaki)
Another South American team Colombia moved into qualifying round sealing the top spot of Group C pulverizing Japan 4-1 in all one sided match. Colombia made it three in three achieving nine points and set up an all-South American pre quarter final with Uruguay which finished second in Group D behind Costa Rica. They earlier defeated Greece 3-0 and Ivory Coast 2-1. Asian hope Japan could only manage a point from three matches holding Greece to a 0-0 draw and losing to Ivory Coast 1-2 and Colombia 1-4.
The superiority of South American Colombia was never in doubt though Japan made some early brisk moves into Colombian defence threatening to take lead. But all those were bouncing off on the Colombian wall and counter attacks Japanese defence started looking vulnerable .Juan Cuadrado opened the scoring for Colombia from the penalty spot in the 17th minute after a rash challenge by Yasuyiko Konno on Adrián Ramos 1-0. Getting this goal Japan roared back into attack and after few probing moves could equalize through a header by Shinji Okazaki making it 1-1 before lemon break.
Japan equalized serving Colombia a taste of its own medicine, Honda broke down the right flank and whipped a cross into the box. Shinji Okazaki beat his marker to the ball — the first time that happened in the entire half — and glanced a header past Ospina. That was unexpected, but it was a great time to score; that was practically the last touch of the half as the referee blows his whistle.
Realizing the necessity to resist Japanese enthusiasm with rapid counter punch Colombian Coach brought in star midfielder James Rodriuez after the breather to push the pedal on the accelerator.
In 55th minute Rodríguez showed his class to serve a goal up on a plate for Jackson Martínez! It was a smart finish back across goal, but the hard work was done in the buildup as Rodríguez took a silkily smooth first touch and gave a minuscule wriggle of his hips to sell the Japanese defenders on the dummy and earn Martínez that extra split second to make the finish easier.
Rodríguez set up Jackson Martínez to put Colombia back in front in the 55th and the same combination hit Japan again on the break to give the South Americans a 3-1 lead in the 82nd minute. Rodríguez saved the best for last and laid a claim to being one of the standout performers of the tournament so far, twisting past his defender in the 90th minute before dinking the ball over the goalkeeper for his third goal in three games.
In 82nd minute Rodriguez set up another fantastic third goal from Colombia! Encapsulating everything that is great about the team’s World Cup so far. Martínez provided the finish, cutting inside to curl a left-footed effort into the far corner after a wonderful through ball from Rodríguez. Japan had been attacking a couple of seconds earlier, but Colombia broke so quickly that the Japanese defenders just could not keep up.
Colombia proved to be one of the most consistent team of the tournament winning all their group matches and promised to go deep into the tournament. The all South American pre quarter final with Uruguay may lose some gloss as Uruguayan star Suarez may be penalized with bans for alleged biting on the shoulder of Italian Chiellini.
Japan and Ivory Coast will leave Brazil empty handed as Greece managed to beat the later 2-1 in another do or die match of the group. Greece will play the giants killer Costa Rica. Japan’s weak performance evidenced the pathetic state of Asian football compared to South America, Central America, Europe and Africa. Only Iran and Australia from Asia Oceania Zone could show some fight in Brazil.
BDST: 0851 HRS, JUN 25, 2014
