Colombia were victorious 4-1 over Japan at Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, Brazil on Tuesday in a fixture from the last matchday in Group C of the World Cup.
The Cafeteros took the lead when Juan Cuadrado converted from the penalty spot, but at the very end of the half Shinji Okazaki gave Japan hope for advancement which, however, vanished in the second half due a brace by Jackson Martinez and another goal by tournament sensation James Rodriguez.
After a quarter of an hour, Japan’s Atsuto Uchida tried his luck with a long-range shot but the ball went well wide off David Ospina’s goal.
Moments later, Yasuyuki Konno brought down Adrian Ramos in attempt to clear the ball but mistimed his tackle. Cuadrado burdened himself with taking the spot kick and blasted the ball in the middle of the goal, leaving no chance for Eiji Kawashima.
Later, Shinji Kagawa tested Ospina from the edge of the penalty area, but the Nice goalkeeper saved well to his right.
The Blue Samurai got their equaliser, however, and that happened with the very last shot of the first half. Playmaker Keisuke Honda sent a cross from the right and Okazaki lunged forward acrobatically and headed in from eight yards out.
The second period went entirely under the control of the South American side. The Cafeteros regained their lead with Martinez’s first goal of the tournament. He was set up in the penalty box by former Porto teammate Rodriguez and sent the ball in the opposite corner of Kawashima’s goal, through the extend legs of Uchida.
The best opportunity for the Blue Samurai came from a long-range set piece shortly past the one-hour mark. After several unsuccessful attempts in the first half, Honda finally managed to put a shot on target from a free-kick, but Ospina punched away comfortably.
It was Martinez again who found himself in his teammates’ arms 10 minutes from time. After being freed with a through ball by Rodriguez, Martinez again got the best of Uchida and sent a beautifully curled shot out of Kawashima’s reach and into the net — 3-1.
The Porto forward played a role in the fourth goal as well, when he provided assist for Rodriguez’s goal. However, the Monaco midfielder had plenty to do on his way to goal. First, with his quick feet he made Maya Yoshida lose his balance and then he left Kawashima helpless with a chip shot that found the net.
History was made in Colombia’s camp five minutes from time, when 43-year old Faryd Mondragon replaced Ospina at the Cafeteros goal and became the oldest player ever to make an appearance in a World Cup match.
