Kolombia Tekuk Pantai Gading 2-1, Rodriguez dkk Kembali Berjoget
Rodriguez and Quintero Set Colombians Dancing Again
Editor : Cahyani Harzi
Translator : Dhelia Gani
Brasilia (B2B) - Kolombia berhasil mengungguli 2-1 atas Pantai Gading pada babak kedua yaitu menit ke-64 melalui sundulan kepala dari James Rodríguez setelah menerima umpan dari tendangan pojok Juan Cuadrado dan menit ke-70 melalui tendangan Quintero.
Sedangkan, gol balasan dari Pantai Gading melalui tendangan Gervinho pada menit ke-73, seperti dilansir Yahoo Sports.
Babak pertama pertandingan Grup C antara Kamerun dan Pantai Gading di Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, Jumat dinihari WIB, berkesudahan sama kuat 0-0.
Pantai Gading tampil lebih menekan, terutama pada sepanjang paruh kedua babak pertama dengan menguasai bola sampai 55 persen.
Menurut catatan FIFA, Les Elephants melancarkan 20 serangan berbahaya yang enam diantaranya berbuah peluang termasuk dua upaya gol menyasar target.
Sebaliknya, Kolombia yang berbalik ditekan pada menit-menit terakhir melancarkan 15 serangan berbahaya namun sempat tiga kali nyaris menciptakan gol. Pantai Gading juga menguasai penuntasan umpan, 187 melawan 167.
Salah satu peluang terbaik pada babak ini diciptakan Teofilo Guiterrez pada menit 28 usai menerima umpan James Rodriguez.
Juan Cuadrado melepaskan umpan manis yang tepat diterima Rodriguez untuk dia teruskan kepada Guiterrez yang sudah berhadapan langsung dengan kiper Baubacar Bary namun pemain AS Monaco ini keliru mengantisipasi bola dengan malah menendangnya melebar dari gawang Pantai Gading.
Sedangkan Pantai Gading diantaranya menciptakan peluang dari Ismael Tiote yang melepaskan tendangan jarak jauh dari luar kotak penalti namun bola melesat di atas mistar gawang Kolombia.
Kiper Kolombia David Ospina dipaksa bekerja keras pada menit-menit terakhir termasuk upaya Seger Aurier yang memaksa Ospina melakukan penyelamatan gemilang pada menit 31. Ini adalah peluang terbaik yang didapat Pantai Gading.
Brasilia - Colombia seized control of World Cup Group C when goals from James Rodriguez and substitute Juan Quintero gave the South Americans a 2-1 win against Ivory Coast on Thursday.
The two nations, meeting for the first time, won their opening games against Greece and Japan respectively and Colombia's success in an entertaining contest puts them on six points at the top of the group, with Ivory Coast on three.
The match only really came to life in the second half and Rodriguez broke the deadlock in the 64th minute when he beat substitute Didier Drogba to the ball at a corner and sent it arrowing into the net off goalkeeper Boubacar Barry.
Rodriguez dispossessed Serey Die six minutes later and Teofilo Gutierrez sent Quintero clear to finish coolly past Barry and send the thousands of yellow-clad Colombia supporters thronging the national stadium in Brasilia into ecstasy.
Gervinho, who also scored against Japan, pulled one back for the Africans in the 73rd minute but Colombia held firm to put one foot firmly in the last 16.
After a cagey opening few minutes in the giant arena in the Brazilian capital, Colombia started to push forward, with midfielder Juan Cuadrado at the heart of their attacks.
It was Cuadrado's ball out to the left that released Rodriguez in the 28th minute but his fine cross was scuffed wide by striker Gutierrez unmarked in front of goal.
Ivory Coast had their first genuine chance three minutes later when lively fullback Serge Aurier cut inside his marker and his low shot forced a good save from Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina.
Ivory Coast talisman Drogba, who was introduced on the hour, was at fault for the opening goal and made little impact during the rest of the game.
After Colombia's quickfire double and Gervinho's response, Ivory Coast pressed hard for an equaliser, Salomon Kalou, another substitute, shooting straight at Ospina when well placed five minutes from time.
