Phoenix, AZ – Colombia confidently secured their place in the Copa America quarter-finals with a commanding 3-0 win over Costa Rica at State Farm Stadium on Friday. Goals from Luis Diaz, Davinson Sanchez, and Jhon Cordoba ensured Colombia’s progression, while Brazil, powered by a brace from Vinicius Jr, triumphed 4-1 over Paraguay in Las Vegas.
Colombia, now guaranteed a top-two finish in Group D, will aim to clinch the group by earning at least a draw against Brazil in their final group match on Tuesday. The Colombian team, led by Nestor Lorenzo, extended their unbeaten streak to 25 games with their victory over Costa Rica. The team has not suffered a defeat since losing to Argentina in February 2022.
Luis Diaz opened the scoring for Colombia in the 31st minute with a penalty, awarded after Costa Rican goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira collided with Jhon Cordoba on the edge of the area. Diaz confidently converted the penalty, sending the ball into the top corner. Colombia almost doubled their lead minutes later when James Rodriguez found Diaz, who delivered a cross that Davinson Sanchez narrowly missed.
Sanchez redeemed himself in the 59th minute, heading in a cross from Jhon Arias to make it 2-0. Cordoba sealed the victory with a stunning goal in the 62nd minute, racing onto an exquisite through ball from Rodriguez and finishing with precision.
Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, Brazil bounced back from a goalless draw with Costa Rica to dominate Paraguay. Despite an early missed penalty by Lucas Paqueta, Brazil took the lead in the 35th minute through Vinicius Jr, who scored following an assist from Paqueta. Savinho extended the lead with a goal in the 43rd minute, and Vinicius Jr added his second goal in stoppage time to give Brazil a 3-0 lead at halftime.
Paraguay responded early in the second half with a goal from Omar Alderete, but any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Adrian Cubas was sent off in the 81st minute. Paqueta redeemed his earlier miss by converting a penalty in the 65th minute, securing a 4-1 victory for Brazil.
The victories set up a tantalizing final group match between Colombia and Brazil, with both teams showcasing their strengths and aiming for the top spot in Group D. As the tournament progresses, fans eagerly anticipate more thrilling performances from these two powerhouses.
