Copa America Group A: Colombian Campaign off to Right Note Against Guatemala

The following article provides an oversight for matches and tournaments taking place in 2020.

Copa America Group A Matches

Colombian Campaign off to Right Note Against Guatemala

June 19, 2020

Colombia 3 Guatemala 0

 

Hosts Colombia opened the Copa America 2020 tournament with a resounding win over Guatemala.

 

Neither side could find an avenue to goal for the first fifteen minutes, though Guatemala did look better when advancing.

 

However, it was James Rodríguez that scored in the twentieth minute, rising above his marking man near the six-yard box and heading home the opener. The ball came from the right wing, where Guatemala looked weakest.

 

Guatemala went on the attack, attempting to reply with gusto. Edi Guerra had a ping at the goals, only for Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina to slow down the ball with his arm before diving on it.

 

In the 36th minute, as Colombia gained strength and momentum, Luis Díaz had a ping from long range, only for the Guatemalan goalkeeper, Ricardo Jérez, to make the necessary save.

 

Guatemala’s best chance in the first half resulted in an offside, where they played around and on the edge of the box. Colombia’s defence, however, ensured no shot was taken.

 

The remainder of the half saw plenty of turnovers as neither side gave the space to set up an informed and methodical attack.

 

After the break, Díaz came down the left wing this time, setting the ball onto the head of Wilmar Barrios, and the midfielder did not disappoint the home crowd.

 

The 61st minute saw Barrios have another attempt, only missing with his left foot by margins. He easily worked around the Guatemalan defence, giving them no sense of owning that part of the field.

 

Juan Cuadrado again came down the right wing, this time trying to set up Díaz, only for the left foot shot to fire way over the bar.

 

Cuadrado, after sending the cross in, cut back into the midfield on his next attack. He eased through the defence, only to shoot with his right, hitting the outside of the post.

 

In the final ten minutes, William Tesillo sent a cross to substitute Luis Muriel, only he had to backtrack, and the header did not find the gap as Jérez shone brightest in his greatest save of the match. The ball, though, fell to Oscar Murillo, who should have shot, only to pass into Muriel, but the Guatemalan defence were able to clear.

 

Colombian substitute Sebastian Pérez, with his first touch, crossed into Player of the Match Rodríguez, only for the talisman’s shot to be easily saved. Rodríguez then nearly set up Muriel, with a wide left foot shot.

 

Instead, Pérez scored when he was found alone after a free kick. Murillo chipped the kick to Gustavo Cuéllar, who popped the ball with his head to the path of Pérez. The substitute made no mistake as he slid the ball into the back of the net.

 

Colombia started off in the best possible manner in Group A, while Guatemala needed to make vital changes.