Fortaleza: A David Luiz free kick took Brazil into the World Cup semifinals with a 2-1 victory over Colombia but the tournament hosts saw striker Neymar carried off in agony.
Brazil’s captain Thiago Silva will also be suspended for Tuesday’s (Wednesday in India) semifinal against Germany after he followed up his first World Cup goal with his second yellow card of the tournament.
Brazil are in the World Cup semis for the first time in 12 years and coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is one step nearer his vow to win the cup for a sixth time.
But Scolari buried his head in his hands when he saw Silva booked and faces the prospect of playing Germany without lead striker Neymar.
Neymar was stretchered off with a back injury after being clattered by Colombia defender Juan Camilo Zuniga. The Brazilian star was taken away in an ambulance and it was later revealed that the playmaker had fractured a vertebrae in his back.
Scolari fumed that Neymar has been “hunted” throughout the tournament and that no punishment was given for the tackle on him.
“I have been saying for three matches that Neymar has been hunted, but all the other countries say it is not true and it is only their players that are hunted,” he said.
Colombia’s James Rodriguez extended his lead as the tournament’s top scorer with his sixth goal in five games from the penalty spot after Julio Cesar brought down Carlos Bacca.
But Colombia now leave and Brazil move on to only their second World Cup meeting with Germany in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday. The Germans beat France 1-0 earlier in the day.
Roared off on by a fervent home crowd, the hosts made a fast start and were ahead inside seven minutes.
Just as in their last-16 clash with Chile a finish at the back post from a Neymar corner opened the scoring as Silva escaped the clutches of Carlos Sanchez to bundle home.
Silva had to intervene once more to break up flowing Colombia counter-attack led by Rodriguez, but Cuadrado’s poor pass allowed the Brazilian captain to intercept when he had two free team mates waiting for a cross.
Ospina denied Hulk once more with another save low to his left before Neymar bent a free kick inches over the crossbar as Brazil ended the half looking to kill the game off.
Chances at both ends dried up early on in the second half and Brazil were dealt a huge blow midway through the session when Silva was booked for barging into Ospina as he sought to clear the ball.
Brazilian nerves were settled in the 69th minute when Luiz sent a wonderful dipping free kick high past Ospina from fully 30 metres.
Yet, Colombia were back in the game 10 minutes from time when substitute Carlos Bacca was upended by Julio Cesar inside the area.
The Brazil goalkeeper was lucky just to see a yellow card. But he could do nothing to stop Rodriguez rolling home his sixth goal of the tournament from the resulting penalty. (AFP)
