Rio De Janeiro: James Rodriguez knocked Luis Suarez out of the headlines with an exquisite goal as Colombia beat Uruguay 2-0 on Saturday (early Sunday in India) to set up a World Cup quarterfinal against hosts Brazil.
The pre-match build-up had been dominated by talk of Suarez’s four-month ban for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini, but by the final whistle at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana, there was only one name on everyone’s lips.
Having previously illuminated the group phase, Rodriguez broke the deadlock shortly before the half hour with a breath-taking strike, chesting the ball down and volleying home from 25 yards.
The 22-year-old added a second early in the second half, sending him to the top of the scorers chart with five goals and confirming his emergence as one of the players of the tournament.
His goals took Colombia into the quarterfinals for the first time, meaning the northern Brazilian city of Fortaleza will turn completely yellow when Jose Pekerman’s side play the hosts on July 4.
Uruguay’s fans sported Suarez masks and brandished banners in support of their wayward star, who flew home on Friday, while his shirt was hung up in the Uruguay changing room.
But they were to endure a night of disappointment on their return to the Maracana, scene of the country’s seismic 2-1 win over Brazil in the deciding game of the 1950 World Cup.
Diego Forlan replaced Suarez for Uruguay, while Colombia coach Pekerman sprang a surprise by selecting two centre-forwards in Jackson Martinez and Teofilo Gutierrez.
Although Martinez lined up on the left flank, there was no lack of ambition to Colombia’s play.
Juan Cuadrado and Juan Zuniga set the tone with purposeful early runs at the Uruguay defence, with one of the latter’s raids culminating in a low shot that Fernando Muslera gathered at the second attempt. (AFP)