Brilliant Colombia Earn Brazil Win but Radamel Falcao Still Failing to Find Form
ESTADIO MONUMENTAL, Santiago — It was just like watching Brazil. Colombia were even in yellow too. And at the end of the game, after the melee that followed, all four sides of the stadium saluted them.
Colombian supporters heavily outnumbered Brazilians, partly because of the large number of the former currently living in Chile, and this felt like a home game for them.
They were roared into every tackle, every chance and looked fired up, a totally different side to the team that lost to Venezuela earlier in the Copa America. Bar one member of the side, Radamel Falcao.
This 1-0 victory was thoroughly merited and a reminder of why the world fell in love with Los Cafeteros at the World Cup.
Brazil and Neymar were left frustrated, with the latter sent off after the final whistle, presumably for a head-butt but potentially for kicking the ball at Pablo Armero.
In truth, Neymar committed a number of yellow card offences and was lucky to only receive one before his eventual red.
The striker was angry because Colombia were forceful with him throughout the game, completing coach Jose Pekerman's anti-Neymar plan to perfection.
Neymar was always left facing a wall of men, with nobody else in the Brazil side, bar perhaps Dani Alves, worth their salt when it comes to creating chances.
Roberto Firmino was up front for Dunga's team, but he was guilty of a horrendous miss in the second half, firing the ball over the crossbar with the goal gaping and 'keeper David Ospina out of the picture.
It was a rare mistake by Colombia that led to the chance, with Ospina caught short by a weak Jeison Murillo pass and closed down.
In most other areas, they were exceptional—Aston Villa midfielder Carlos Sanchez in particular. He harried and hounded Brazil's players, making crucial tackles and interceptions. Most importantly, he was the extra man to deal with Neymar time and time again.
James Rodriguez was much-improved from his performance against Venezuela, making far more of a contribution from his position on the left.
Starting one attack with a nutmeg on Fernandinho and finishing the game with a drive inches past the far post, this was the James we saw star for Real Madrid last season.
Juan Cuadrado was also brilliant, leaving Chelsea supporters wondering where he's been hiding for the past six months.
Dribbling with confidence and purpose, chipping in defensively too, this version of the winger is needed badly at Stamford Bridge.
One challenge on Neymar epitomised both his game and his transformation, with Cuadrado knocking the Barcelona star to the turf and charging forward with the ball. Back in west London, it would have been him left on the floor, wondering what had happened.
But amid all the delight for Colombia—tarnished only by a red card for Carlos Bacca for attacking Neymar during the full-time brawl—there was Falcao.
When he was substituted in the 69th minute, the Cafeteros fans crammed into the stadium gave him a heroic ovation.
They stood up to applaud El Tigre; he applauded back. Pekerman gave him a slapped handshake, and if you hadn't seen the game, you'd have thought he had bagged a hat-trick and was coming off for a well-deserved rest.
But the striker—a Chelsea target, per BBC Sport's Dan Roan—endured another frustrating game where he barely had a sniff.
The best opportunity fell to him in the first half, when a lightning-quick break ended with the ball falling to Falcao on the edge of the box, but he shanked his volley well wide.
A shot over the bar in the second half when well-positioned was disappointing too, and his only strong positive contribution was to be fouled in the 35th minute.
In came Cuadrado's free-kick from the right, pinball ensued, and then Murillo rammed it home, a striker's finish from the young defender.
Colombia tried him with Bacca in the first game, and neither player impressed. This time it was with Teofilo Gutierrez, who played well, but Falcao was still left wanting.
Colombia were back to their best or close to it, but their talisman and all-time top goalscorer is still desperately looking for form.
