Quintero stuns France in Paris as Colombia hit back to win
PARIS: Substitute Juan Quintero lashed home a penalty five minutes from time as Colombia came back from 2-0 down to stun France 3-2.
Barcelona centreback Samuel Umtiti was penalised for a rash lunge on Quintero’s fellow substitute Jose Izquierdo as the South Americans received a morale boost on Friday ahead of the World Cup in Russia.
“My team showed World Cup character,” beamed Colombia coach Jose Pekerman, whose side will face Poland, Senegal and Japan in Group H.
“It’s very important for this preparation for Russia.”
France coach Didier Deschamps admitted the visitors had shown greater desire.
“The Colombians gave us a lesson in aggressiveness, whereas we were too quick to settle for what we had,” he told TMC television.
“The top level is demanding and we didn’t respond in the second half.”
France will be up against Australia, Peru and Denmark in Group C in Russia.
It was a remarkable turnaround after the hosts had got off to a flying start at the Stade de France.
Olivier Giroud scored his 30th goal for France as Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba was left on the bench – as he has frequently been by Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford.
Thomas Lemar doubled the lead for a vibrant France but Luis Muriel gave the South Americans hope following a mistake by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Lemar’s Monaco teammate Radamel Falcao equalised and Quintero then had the last word, just two minutes after entering the fray.
Pogba came on as a substitute for the final quarter but had little impact.
Even without the elegant drive that Pogba brings to the midfield, France were on the front foot from the off.
But when they deservedly took the lead on 11 minutes, it was almost entirely down to a horrendous gaffe by Arsenal reserve goalkeeper David Ospina.
Lucas Digne timed his run down the left flank perfectly to gallop onto Lemar’s inch-perfect through ball but the fullback’s cross on the stretch was weak and straight at Ospina.
The Arsenal stopper inexplicably fumbled it, though, allowing Giroud to thrash a rising shot into the roof of the net as he fell backwards.