Falcao class tells against Belgium
SKILLED: COLOMBIA GIVE A BRUSSELS SUPER SHOW South Americans live up to their lofty world ranking.
Radamel Falcao led Colombia to a 2- 0 victory over Belgium in a friendly between two top-five teams on Thursday.
In a face-off between two potential stars of next year’s World Cup, Falcao got the better of Eden Hazard, if only because of his imperious strike.
In the 52nd minute, Falcao broke open the tight and entertaining game when he beat the off- side trap and swerved past goalkeeper Simon Mignolet to bury it deep in the net.
Skills run far deeper in the fourth-ranked Colombian team than Falcao, and in the 67th minute Victor Ibarbo proved it, controlling a pass with one foot in the penalty area before volleying it past Mignolet with his left.
Belgium, ranked fi fth, twice hit the woodwork. Marouane Fellaini latched onto a header from Thomas Vermaelen to hit the post in the 76th, and Dries Mertens hit the same post seven minutes later.
Belgium’s top striker, Christian Benteke, had two great chances, but his recent lack of club form showed with two poor headers.
Colombia complete their mini tour of Europe with a game against the Netherlands next Tuesday, and Belgium face Japan.
In a sold-out 40 000-capacity King Baudouin Stadium, Belgium wanted to test out their secondstring keeper Mignolet but he could do little about the goals. In the second half especially, the Colombians highlighted the absence of injured Belgium captain and central defender Vincent Kompany as they cut through the offside trap and repeatedly found men waiting in the area.
Falcao was denied for much of the game but was a continuous threat to the Belgium defence and marshalled his team with fine passes and instructions.
By comparison, Hazard impressed his Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho in the stands with several lightning breaks but the decisive pass was lacking. –