World Cup 2014: Colombia beats Uruguay 2-0

Brazil Soccer WCup Colombia Uruguay

James Rodriguez scored twice to put Colombia into the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in a 2-0 victory over Uruguay on Saturday.

 

Colombia will play host Brazil in the last eight.

 

Rodriguez gave his team the lead with a stunning long-range volley on the turn in the 28th minute and added the second from close range shortly after the break as Colombia dominated a Uruguay side that sorely missed banned striker Luis Suarez.

 

Rodriguez now has a tournament-leading five goals in Brazil and further enhanced his status as perhaps the tournament’s biggest revelation.

 

Uruguay, meanwhile, struggled badly in attack without Suarez and his replacement Diego Forlan was substituted in the 53rd after a disappointing performance in what was probably his final World Cup appearance.

 

Forlan starts up front for Uruguay

Diego Forlan  started up front for Uruguay in place of banned striker Luis Suarez in Saturday’s second-round World Cup match against Colombia.

 

Forlan was named the best player of the 2010 World Cup but has struggled to make an impact in Brazil, despite starting in Uruguay’s opening 2-1 loss to Costa Rica, when Suarez was still recovering from knee surgery.

 

With Suarez now banned for biting an opponent in the group-stage win against Italy, Forlan will partner Edinson Cavani in attack for Uruguay.

 

Colombia again has James Rodriguez anchoring the midfield, with Teofilo Gutierrez and Jackson Martinez in attack.

 

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Colombia: David Ospina; Cristian Zapata, Mario Yepes, Pablo Armero, Juan Zuniga; Carlos Sanchez Abel Aguilar, Juan Cuadrado, James Rodriguez; Teofilo Gutierrez, Jackson Martinez.

 

Uruguay: Fernando Muslera; Diego Godin, Alvaro Pereira, Cristian Rodriguez, Martin Caceres; Jose Gimenez, Maxi Pereira, Egidio Arevalo, Alvaro Gonzalez; Edinson Cavani, Diego Forlan.

Source: UNBConnect