The starting list of Colombia against Uruguay left several surprises in certain positions. Carlos Cuesta and Yerry Mina remained in the central pair, the player who is in the Belgian league little by little consolidates himself as the triple R alternative, due to his safety and character.
Carlos Cuesta once again won the trust of Reinaldo Rueda. The Genk center-back started as a starter with Yerry Mina, the difference is that the 22-year-old had an inverted profile. Despite this, he was one of the fundamentals at the start of the game.
And it is that in the first 15 minutes, Uruguay subdued Colombia, not only for taking the ball, but for advancing its lines and taking over the offensive actions. In that role, Cuesta appeared, sure to cut the entrances on the sides of Uruguay, to control and roll it forward.
Those first minutes of the Genk player were vital, a closure to Suárez, precise to cut the ball, reaching the relief of Mina, who looked committed in that and several at the start of the commitment.
His security allowed him to be the one who comes out with the ball to the ground, he received with confidence and began to gain meters, to play with the men in the middle or above.
The center-back was always a pass option for his teammates, in the case on the left wing with Mojica, who was constantly pressured by rivals.
The entrance of Cavani gave a new task to the center-back, having him as a point of reference and keeping track of him on the attack front. That proximity allowed him to annul the Manchester United attacker.
The defender’s heat map placed him in the left zone, always outside the area, where he became vital for his timely entries. He achieved 66% effectiveness in his sweeps, making four punts, three interceptions. In the game generation he had a total of 29 passes, of which 23 were perfect, he was not fine in the long start, despite looking for it and sending them with power.
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