Colombia ceded their top spot in group A as a 3-2 defeat to Costa Rica in their final group game allowed hosts USA to seal pole position, leaving the prospect of a mouth-watering clash with rivals Brazil in the quarter-finals.
With several first-team regulars rested by Jose Pekerman having already sealed a progression, Los Cafeteros fell behind as early as the second minute when Johan Venegas opened the account for Costa Rica. Frank Fabra restored parity for the whites just 4 minutes later, and found the net again just past the half-hour mark, albeit, at the wrong end as his own-goal put Los Ticos back in the lead.
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The tie was all but over when Celso Borges made it 3-1, but Marlos Moreno gave Colombia some hope with a late strike. Despite their best efforts, La Tricolor couldn’t find the all-important equaliser and were forced to settle for a second place finish with the shock loss.
Following are some of the key talking points shaped from the gripping clash in Texas.
#1 Colombia pay the price for resting on their laurels
With 2 victories from the opening 2 group games, Colombia were already ensured a place in the last 8. However, the race for a top-spot finish was still very much alive. With hosts USA beating Paraguay by 1-0 earlier in the day, only a draw would’ve been enough for Jose Pekerman’s side to seal the pole position, but the Argentinian fielded a weakened line-up that eventually proved too costly.
With David Ospina, Jeison Murillo, James Rodriguez, Juan Cuadrado and Carlos Bacca also starting from the bench, Colombia were given early jitters when Costa Rica took the lead inside 2 minutes. And although Frank Fabra made it 1-1 within moments, they were second best thereafter.
Colombia were clearing lacking the guile and firepower in the attack that the likes of James and Bacca had brought in the previous 2 games, whereas Ospina’s replacement, a 37-year old Robinson Zapata, had a night to forget.
Pekerman tried to make amends for his mistakes by bringing on Cuadrado and James slightly after the hour mark, but the damage was already done.
#2 Frank Fabra eclipses his own heroics
Boca Juniors defender Frank Fabra was one of the 10 changes made to the line-up and was slotted in place of Farid Diaz in the left wing-back role. The 25-year old took just 5 minutes to leave his mark when his solo run equalised for Colombia, but it took another 23 minutes to erase all the hard work with a horror own-goal.
Starting from the left wing, Fabra embarked on a mazy run in the 5th minute bamboozling the Costa Rican defenders and capped off by slotting under Patrick Pemberton for a brilliant solo goal. The full-back single-handedly brought Colombia back in the game, and then, put them behind once again.
Johan Venegas drifted down the left wing and with ‘keeper Zapata well off his line, laid an inviting cross that Fabra inadvertently diverted into their own net. Fabra tried to cover up for Zapata by getting behind him to clear the danger, but instead, ended putting the ball into the back of Costa Rica's net.
He had brought the whole stadium on its foot with his magical individual goal but later eclipsed it with an embarrassing mistake.
#3 Where was this Costa Rica all the while ?
To go by their performance in the first two group games, Costa Rica appeared nowhere near their best. After narrowly losing out to Paraguay on the first day, La Tricolor were dealt a sucker punch when USA romped to an emphatic 4-0 win that effectively ended their Copa America campaign. Against Colombia too, Oscar Ramirez’s side did not stand any chance, but they made sure they bow out in some style by pulling a shocker.
Having made a bright start by taking the lead in the second minute, Costa Rica restored hegemony in the game shortly after conceding an equaliser. Pushing bodies forward relentlessly, the Central American champions when they forced an own goal and made life more difficult for the men in white with a well-worked third goal early after the break.
When Colombia worryingly pressed in the final few minutes, Costa Rica tracked back to fend off the threat, and Moreno’s late second for the former was the only blot.
It was a night that went really well for the tiny nation and put the poor campaign behind them with an encouraging finish. However, it begs the question – where were they until now?
#4 Substitutions throw an interesting finish
With Colombia trailing 2-1 and in the danger of relinquishing their top spot, Jose Pekerman threw on James Rodriguez, Juan Cuadrado and Edwin Cardona after the break. Although the move didn’t achieve the desired result, it did, however, produce an interesting finish to the tie.
The arrival of James induced new vigor in Colombia as they appeared more threatening with him in the attack. And after falling 3-1 behind just before the hour mark, Cuadrado made his way which bolstered Colombia further.
The Coffee Growers attacked at full pelt, keeping most of the ball and trying to create several opportunities. Their efforts paid off a little when Cuadrado set up Moreno for a second, but Costa Rica stood firm enough to deny them a third.
The substitutions may not have been enough to turn the tie around for Colombia, but it gave a frantic finish to a game that was otherwise turning lopsided.
#5 USA are the real winners here
Costa Rica may have conquered Colombia, but it’s the hosts USA who would be the happiest with the result. The defeat meant the USMNT finish as the leaders of group A, but more importantly, they also avoid a potential clash with favourites Brazil in the last 8.
Having opened their account with a tame 2-0 loss to Colombia, The Yanks hit back with a clinical demolition of Costa Rica in their second outing and followed it up with another victory on the final day to Paraguay. Colombia needed only a draw to finish as leaders, but thanks to a favour from Los Ticos, it's the home team who took the lead.
USA now probably take on Peru in the last 8 with a chance to also make it to the semis, whereas Jose Pekerman was left to rue his selection as his side now face the prospect of elimination in the quarters at the hands of Brazil.
