The Colombia national team walks off the field in Houston after losing 3-2 to Costa Rica, finishing second in Group A. Photo credit: Victor Araiza/Prost Amerika.
Costa Rica showed up late to Copa America? You make think that based on the one point Los Ticos had earned heading into their final game of the group stage but, just like Colombia Head Coach Jose Pékerman, you may have underestimated Costa Rica.
Costa Rica’s 3-2 win over Colombia, who just needed a tie to secure the top spot in Group A, delivered a great performance to the 45, 808 fans in attendance at Houston’s NRG Stadium as well as viewers around the globe.
Colombia now finishes second in the group, an unforeseen result given their recent run of form, and await the winner of Brazil vs. Peru on Sunday night. The United States, who were only worried about holding off Paraguay to advance to the quarterfinals, now head to Seattle to face the runner-up in Group B on Thursday.
The Match
Colombia’s best players like James Rodriguez, Carlos Bacca, Juan Cuadrado and goalkeeper David Ospina were out of the starting lineup in a decision by Pékerman to rest his starters and give playing time to his younger guys. The decision, while understandable given that Colombia only needed a tie, backfired.
“There is not a moment when you don’t run a risk,” Pékerman said after the game through a translator. “We considered that based on the work we did, this was the right moment to run some risk.”
“Costa Rica just confirmed how good a team they are. We really thought that we would be able to really play a good game,” added Pékerman.
Johan Venegas, who plays in Major League Soccer with the Montreal Impact, scored a wonder goal in the 2nd minute to put Costa Rica on the board first. Los Cafeteros were woken up by that early goal and immediately sent numbers forward to tie the game in the 6th minute with a goal by Frank Fabra.
Fabra, unfortunately for him, would turn from hero to villain as he accidentally slides in an own goal in the 34th minute. Costa Rica would head into halftime with a 2-1 lead.
James Rodriguez would enter the match at the start of the second half along with forward Edwin Cardona as Colombia tried to retake the game, needing only a goal to clinch the group.
Costa Rica would have none of it.
Celso Borges scored in the 58th minute to give Costa Rica a 3-1 lead and, at that point, every United States fan started to see the top of the group as a possibility.
Pékerman used his last substitution in the 66th minute on Juventus midfielder Juan Cuadrado. Colombia would reap the benefits its substitutions in the 73rd minute as Cardona and Cuadrado set up a goal by Marlos Moreno.
Costa Rica would hold on and defeat Colombia to conclude their participation in the Copa America Centenario with four points and the third place in Group A. Their next official match will be on September 2nd when Los Ticos travel to Haiti in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying.
Colombia will now travel to East Rutherford, New Jersey where they will face the winner of Group B, to be decided Sunday, on June 17th at MetLife Stadium.
The Highlights
Victor Araiza is a Houston-based writer covering Copa America Centenario and the Houston Dynamo beat reporter for Prost Amerika.
Follow @victoraraiza Tweet to @victoraraiza
