Colombia wrapped up their second and final World Cup warm up game with a 3-0 win over Jordan in Buenos Aires on Saturday morning.
A week earlier, Los Cafeteros were leading 2-0 in their first match against Senegal but the Africans pegged them back in style as the game finished in a 2-2 draw.
Senegal scored two quick-fire goals to surprise the South Americans whose dominance was evident throughout the first half.
Strikers Teofilo Gutierrez and Carlos Bacca showed that they are capable of filling the void of injured striker Falcao as they put Colombia into a comfortable lead before the break in a half which could have seen more goals for the Tricolor.
Gutierrez tapped the ball over the line after Carlos Bacca’s back-post header and the provider turned into the scorer just before the break getting on the end of Victor Ibarbo’s pull back and firing into the top corner.
The second half saw a start that the Colombians wouldn’t have wished for as Senegal scored within a minute of the restart when Moussa Konate’s shot somehow found its way through the goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon. After a barrage on Colombia’s goal, the Lions of Teranga equalized through Cheick Ndoye’s screamer from range in the 52nd minute.
Senegal had a man sent off midway through the second half and although they had long spells of possession Los Cafeteros could not break the Africans down as the game ended in a draw.
The Colombians second match was a lot more convincing as they dispatched Jordan 3-0 at the Estadio Bidegain in Buenos Aires.
Two penalties from James Rodriguez and Juan Guillermo Cuadrado and a thunderbolt from Fredy Guarin ensured that the Tricolor would head to Brazil on the back of a victory.
Rodriguez slotted the first penalty in to the bottom corner after the first of two handball offences from the Jordanians.
Colombia did not add to their lead until the 83rd minute when Fiorentina winger Cuadrado fired the second penalty home after the Jordan defender prevented the ball from crossing the line illegally with his hand.
Just before the end, Inter midfielder Guarin rocketed the ball from 30 yards in to the top corner leaving the Jordan goalkeeper helpless as Colombia ended the game in full control.
Colombia have a lot of pace in their ranks and seemed at their most dangerous when they started explosive counter attacks from defensive situations, to catch their opponents out.
Los Cafeteros head to Brazil undefeated in their warm up games but they must perform better if they want to improve on their record finish in the World Cup. It appeared that the Colombians were going through the motions in these warm ups as they understandably didn’t want any further injuries to add to the absence of Falcao.
Colombia shouldn’t be written off as a result of these warm up games as they are bound to up the ante in Brazil with the heat playing into their hands.
