Colombia edges 10-man Costa Rica
Source: Agencies |
July 4, 2011, Monday
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STRIKER Adrian Ramos earned Colombia a 1-0 win over 10-man Costa Rica that put it top of Group A after their first match at the Copa America on Saturday.
Ramos beat the offside trap to run onto a through pass from winger Fredy Guarin, round goalkeeper Leonel Moreira and put the Colombians ahead seconds before halftime in Jujuy, Argentina.
Costa Rica had been reduced to 10 men after 27 minutes when forward Randall Brenes was shown a straight red card after a dangerous tackle on defender Luis Perea.
Colombia leads the group with three points ahead of hosts Argentina and Bolivia who have one point each after their 1-1 draw on Friday in the tournament's opening match in La Plata.
"The important thing was to start with a win and that's what we did," Ramos told reporters.
Colombia, which faces Argentina on Wednesday in Santa Fe, dominated after a bright start by Costa Rica but its passing was sloppy in a game mostly fought out in midfield. Its task was made easier when Brenes, one of the more experienced players in a young Costa Rica side, was dismissed and Ramos took advantage to score just before the break.
Substitute striker Hugo Rodallega had a chance to extend the lead in the 54th but Moreira made a fine save.
Costa Rica was named as a late entry in the tournament after Japan withdrew following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
Two-time defending champion Brazil opens play today in Group B against Venezuela, and Paraguay faces Ecuador. Brazil has won four of the last five titles, and defeated Argentina in the last two finals.
In Germany, the United States backed up its No. 1 ranking with a convincing 3-0 victory over Colombia on Saturday as it joined Sweden in reaching the women's World Cup quarterfinals.
Sweden, which struggled up front for the second Group C game in a row, came away with a 1-0 win over North Korea that was worth a place in the last eight after the American victory.
The day's two winners have six points each, while North Korea and Colombia both have zero before the final round of matches and are eliminated.
Where Sweden missed chances for over an hour before it got a vital breakthrough, the two-time world champion was ahead within a dozen minutes after a fierce 25-meter drive from Heather O'Reilly into the left hand corner.
Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd also scored in a confident allround performance from the Americans.
The Americans and Swedes meet in Wolfsburg on Wednesday to decide who finishes top of the group. If Brazil wins Group D as expected, the winner of the clash will avoid facing Marta and her South American teammates.
Ramos beat the offside trap to run onto a through pass from winger Fredy Guarin, round goalkeeper Leonel Moreira and put the Colombians ahead seconds before halftime in Jujuy, Argentina.
Costa Rica had been reduced to 10 men after 27 minutes when forward Randall Brenes was shown a straight red card after a dangerous tackle on defender Luis Perea.
Colombia leads the group with three points ahead of hosts Argentina and Bolivia who have one point each after their 1-1 draw on Friday in the tournament's opening match in La Plata.
"The important thing was to start with a win and that's what we did," Ramos told reporters.
Colombia, which faces Argentina on Wednesday in Santa Fe, dominated after a bright start by Costa Rica but its passing was sloppy in a game mostly fought out in midfield. Its task was made easier when Brenes, one of the more experienced players in a young Costa Rica side, was dismissed and Ramos took advantage to score just before the break.
Substitute striker Hugo Rodallega had a chance to extend the lead in the 54th but Moreira made a fine save.
Costa Rica was named as a late entry in the tournament after Japan withdrew following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
Two-time defending champion Brazil opens play today in Group B against Venezuela, and Paraguay faces Ecuador. Brazil has won four of the last five titles, and defeated Argentina in the last two finals.
In Germany, the United States backed up its No. 1 ranking with a convincing 3-0 victory over Colombia on Saturday as it joined Sweden in reaching the women's World Cup quarterfinals.
Sweden, which struggled up front for the second Group C game in a row, came away with a 1-0 win over North Korea that was worth a place in the last eight after the American victory.
The day's two winners have six points each, while North Korea and Colombia both have zero before the final round of matches and are eliminated.
Where Sweden missed chances for over an hour before it got a vital breakthrough, the two-time world champion was ahead within a dozen minutes after a fierce 25-meter drive from Heather O'Reilly into the left hand corner.
Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd also scored in a confident allround performance from the Americans.
The Americans and Swedes meet in Wolfsburg on Wednesday to decide who finishes top of the group. If Brazil wins Group D as expected, the winner of the clash will avoid facing Marta and her South American teammates.
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