Duvan Zapata on Wednesday scored for the second match running to send Colombia into the Copa America quarter-finals with a late header to beat Qatar 1-0.
Carlos Queiroz’s team became the first side into the knockout rounds after following up Saturday’s 2-0 win over Argentina with another victory over the dogged Asian champions.
It was a deserved success, but one that had looked likely to elude the 2001 champions as they toiled against a Qatar side who defended stoically and held on grimly for more than 85 minutes.
Photo: AFP
“It was difficult, but we showed patience and mustered the winning goal. The win was paramount and we leave happy,” said Zapata, who insisted Colombia would not be taking things easy in their final group match against Paraguay on Sunday. “We hope for the best possible finish to the group stage.”
Qatar, who are to host the next FIFA World Cup in 2022, might now need to beat Lionel Messi’s Argentina in their final Group B match if they are to reach the last eight.
“It leaves a bad taste, because the end was close,” Spanish Qatar coach Felix Sanchez said. “Conceding a goal in the final minutes when the game was heading for a draw ... it leaves you bitter at not having taken a point, but we also have to appreciate that the team competed with great opponents.”
Zapata repaid Queiroz after the Portuguese coach surprisingly picked the Atalanta BC striker in place of star forward Radamel Falcao.
“We are on the right path. When you have Falcao and Duvan in your side, scoring is a given,” captain James Rodriguez said.
Queiroz’s team were off to a flying start, putting the ball in the net after just six minutes, but Roger Martinez’s close-range header was ruled out for offside.
James should have given Colombia the lead on 13 minutes as he met Martinez’s pinpoint cross just seven yards out, but the playmaker inexplicably headed wide.
Much as they had been in the early stages against Paraguay, when they came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2, Qatar were under pressure, as Colombia spread the play intelligently.
Juan Cuadrado tried his luck from long range, but goalkeeper Saad al-Sheeb was alert to punch the ball away.
Zapata, as he had during the last Serie A season, caused havoc in the Qatar defense with his size and strength, but was off target with a pair of headers.
At times it looked like a game of attack versus defense, but Colombia were struggling to break down the massed ranks of burgundy jerseys.
When Martinez did split open the defense with a through-ball for Cuadrado, the Juventus winger’s first touch was too heavy and Boualem Khouki darted across to clear the danger.
Colombia thought they had a penalty early in the second half, but the video assistant referee — after an interminable delay — overturned referee Alexis Herrera’s handball award against Abdulaziz Hatem.
James found Martinez inside the area with a clever pass, but the winger fired straight at al-Sheeb.
Qatar started to show greater ambition and Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina was called upon to make low saves from Hatim and Akram Afif.
Queiroz reacted by bringing on Falcao for Cuadrado and moments later James teed up Martinez again, but the Club America forward was denied by al-Sheeb.
Colombia continued to create opportunities, but at times they simply pumped aimless crosses into the Qatar box.
The breakthrough finally came four minutes from time as James dinked a chip with the outside of his left foot to the back post, where Zapata rose highest to power home a header.
“They said we couldn’t play together with Falcao, but we showed that we could play with two strikers,” said Zapata, who leaped above his strike partner to convert the winner.
He should have had a second in injury-time, but fired wide on the counterattack with only al-Sheeb to beat.
Brazil has four teams, more than any other country, in the expanded Club World Cup that kicked off yesterday in the US, but for SE Palmeiras, the competition holds a special meaning: winning it would provide some redemption. Under coach Abel Ferreira since 2020, Palmeiras lifted two Copa Libertadores titles, plus Brazilian league, cup and state championships. Even before Ferreira, it boasted another South American crown and 11 league titles. The only major trophy missing is a world champions’ title. Other Brazilian clubs like Fluminense FC and Botafogo FR, also in the tournament, have never won it either, but the problem for Palmeiras
Manchester City on Monday completed the signing of left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a reported ￡31 million (US$41.8 million). The 24-year-old Algeria international has signed a five-year contract and will be available for the FIFA Club World Cup, which begins later this week. Ait-Nouri is expected to be just one of a trio of new City faces for that tournament with deals close to completion for AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and Olympique Lyonnais playmaker Rayan Cherki. After missing out on a major trophy in the recently completed season for the first time since 2016-2017, City are hoping
Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in has pleaded with South Korea fans to get behind the team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after more boos were aimed at coach Hong Myung-bo despite leading them to qualification. South Korea reached next year’s finals in North America without losing a game, but that does not tell the whole story. The country’s soccer association has been in the firing line, having scrambled about to find a successor after sacking the unpopular Jurgen Klinsmann in February last year. They eventually settled on Hong, the decorated former skipper who had an unsuccessful stint as coach in 2013-2014, during which
Lionel Messi drew vast crowds and showed flashes of his brilliance when his Inter Miami side were held to a goalless draw by African giants Al-Ahly as the revamped FIFA Club World Cup got off to a festive start on Saturday. Fans showed up en masse for the Group A clash at the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, but Messi could not fully deliver, his best chance coming through a last-second attempt that was deflected onto the crossbar. Inter Miami next face FC Porto on Thursday in Atlanta, while Al-Ahly, who benefited from raucous, massive support, are to
RSS