As part of the third day of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, Colombia hosted Uruguay at the Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez. A shock between the fifth and the sixth of the South America zone. Carlos Queiroz’s men thus had a head start on their opponent before kick-off. To temporarily join Argentina at the top of the standings, the Portuguese coach lined up a 4-3-3 with the trio of James Rodriguez, Zapata and Muriel in attack. On the Celeste side, Oscar Tabarez relied on a 4-4-2 with the duo Cavani, Suarez in tip.
Uruguay ideally started the match and opened the scoring. Following a ball lost by Yerry Mina, Nandez alerted Cavani who left no chance for Ospina (0-1, 5th). The Celeste just missed the break just before half an hour into the game. On the right, Suarez distilled a good cross for Bentancur whose strike was repelled with difficulty by Ospina on the nose and beard of Cavani who was running (25th). Three minutes later, Colombia secured their first chance of the match.
The duo Cavani, Suarez struck for the Celeste
Following a cross from Uribe, Zapata put his head back into the box for Mina who could not resume the leather (28th). Uruguay was scared five minutes later on a cross from Mojica that Torreira failed to push into his own net (33rd). Coming back from the locker room, Colombia returned with better intentions. On a free kick hit by Cuadrado, Zapata saw his head miraculously pushed back by Campaña (50 ‘). But the Celeste took advantage of the Colombian mistakes to counterattack. James Rodriguez lost the ball in the middle, which benefited Bentancur who served Suarez.
El Pistolero found Bentancur in the area which was mown down by Murillo (52nd). Luis Suarez did not tremble and took Ospina against the odds (0-2, 54th). The debates grew stronger after the hour mark and the Cafeteros tried to put pressure in front of Campaña’s goals. Tabarez’s men struck the final blow with a superb long shot from Nuñez which adjusted Ospina (0-3, 73 ‘). Colombia ended the game at ten with the expulsion of Mina following a second yellow card (90th). With this victory, Uruguay climbed to fourth place in the standings and came back to Ecuador and Brazil with six points.
Find the film of the match on our live commentary.
