YELLOW PERIL ON THE PATH TO GLORY
COLOMBIA may be a dark horse to win this tournament after yet another excellent counter-attacking performance here last night. Goals by £40million-rated James Rodriguez and substitute Juan Quintero deservedly ensured the South Americans secured their second consecutive win as Ivory Coast’s big stars Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba and Wilfried Bony failed to turn up. Colombia top Group C with six points and are set to face the runners-up from Group D in the last 16 — although that is now unlikely to be Roy Hodgson’s England. Despite their defeat, Ivory Coast could also still qualify and they claimed the goal of the day in Brasilia — a superb individual consolation effort from their former Arsenal forward Gervinho. Colombia were once tipped to win the World Cup by Pele in 1994 — and failed to get out of their group. This team, built by Argentine coach Jose Pekerman, is made of sterner stuff despite being without their best striker Radamel Falcao for the tournament. Not only are the yellow-shirted South Americans arguably the quickest team at the World Cup, they matched Ivory Coast physically, too. And they know how to have fun — celebrating together with a group hip-wiggling dance in honour of fellow Colombian Shakira. For once, Manchester City powerhouse Toure was dominated in midfield by his permanent shadow Carlos Sanchez and Bony didn’t get a kick until he was replaced by Drogba. Colombia took 64 minutes to make their domination pay after Juan Cuadrado had earlier hit the post. Cuadrado’s excellent corner was met by man-of-the-match Rodriguez, who climbed high above marker Didier Zokora to connect with a powerful header into the roof of the net. Rodriguez is valued at £40m by his club Monaco and has plenty of suitors, including Manchester United. His tenacity and quick-thinking led to Colombia’s second goal after 70 minutes, robbing Serey Die after Ivory Coast had made a hash of a set-piece. A quick interchange of passes and substitute Quintero ran behind the Africans’ defence to score. ‘The team is so emotionally strong,’ said manager Pekerman, who is so popular he polled 400,000 votes in Colombia’s recent presidential election, even though he wasn’t standing. ‘We are never going to lack courage, no matter who we play. To see thousands of our fans in the stadium helped us in such a tough game.’ To Ivory Coast’s credit, they rallied with a solo goal by Gervinho, who cut inside three defender from the touchline before shooting home. Salomon Kalou and Drogba were then denied a late equaliser by goalkeeper David Ospina. English referee Howard Webb, meanwhile, enjoyed a far quieter game than his last World Cup match, the infamous final in 2010, but still booked Ivory Coast midfielder Zokora, who is now suspended for the final group game against Greece.