Uruguay is toothless vs. Colombia

RIO DE JANEIRO — James Rodriguez scored one of the best goals of the tournament and then added a second to put Colombia into the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time with a 2-0 win over Uruguay on Saturday.

Rodriguez gave his team the lead with a stunning long-range volley on the turn in the 28th minute and netted the second from close ra nge shortly after the break as Colombia dominated a Uruguay side that sorely missed banned striker Luis Suarez.

Rodriguez now has a tournament-leading five goals in Brazil and further enhanced his status as perhaps the tournament’s biggest revelation.

Uruguay, meanwhile, struggled badly in attack without Suarez, and his replacement Diego Forlan was substituted in the 53rd after a disappointing performance in what was probably his final World Cup appearance.

Colombia will play Brazil in the quarterfinals on July 4 in Fortaleza after the host beat Chile in a penalty shootout earlier Saturday.

Rodriguez showed once again that the Brazilians have every reason to be wary.

The opener was his most spectacular goal yet. He chested the ball down with his back to goal well outside the area and in one fluid motion turned around and fired a leftfoot volley that went off the underside of the crossbar and into the net. — AP