Colombia secured their spot in the Copa America quarterfinals with a commanding 3-0 victory over Costa Rica on Friday. Davinson Sánchez and Jhon Córdoba found the net within three minutes of each other in the second half to seal the win at State Farm Stadium, cheered on by 27,386 enthusiastic Colombian fans.
The Colombians dominated possession once again, maintaining 62% of the ball throughout the match, similar to their previous game. They took a 1-0 lead into halftime courtesy of Luis Díaz’s penalty kick in the 31st minute.
After the break, Colombia continued to apply pressure, outshooting Costa Rica 14-5 in total. Their relentless attack paid off when Sánchez scored with a header from a corner kick in the 59th minute. Shortly after, Córdoba extended their lead with a well-placed finish past Costa Rica’s goalkeeper.
Colombia’s victory extends their impressive unbeaten streak to 25 games (20 wins, 5 draws) since their last defeat in a World Cup qualifier against Argentina in 2022. They now prepare to face Brazil in their final group stage match on Tuesday in Santa Clara, California.
Costa Rica, after holding Brazil to a goalless draw in their tournament opener, struggled against Colombia’s formidable lineup. The Costa Rican coach, Gustavo Alfaro, acknowledged the challenge posed by Colombia, stating, “The other team was clearly on another level.”
Colombia’s head coach, Néstor Lorenzo, praised his team’s performance, highlighting their control and character throughout the match. “Today was a game we dominated from start to finish,” Lorenzo remarked, emphasizing the team’s adherence to their game plan and the quality of their players.
