Midfielder scores a goal apiece in each half to lead team to victory
Colombia's James Rodriguez (10) is lifted off his feet by his teammates following Colombia's 2-0 victory over Uruguay during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Colombia and Uruguay at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Photo
Rio De Janeiro: James Rodriguez scored twiceas Colombia claimed their first World Cup quarterfinals appearance with a 2-0 win over two-time champions Uruguay and set up a clash with hosts Brazil, who edged out Chile 3-2 on penalties in the second round today.
The 22-year-old Rodriguez struck on both halves of the match to not only sent Uruguay home but also emerge as the leading goalscorer of the World Cup so far with five goals in
four matches.
Rodriguez opening goal
Rodriguez notched up one of the most magnificent goal of the World Cup in the 28th minute when he took the ball on his chest just outside the penalty area and spun in a flash before smashing it left-footed over the fingertips of Muslera. Colombia had the majority of ball possession initially and even though Uruguay, sans banned Luis Suarez, tried todominate in the fag end of the first half, the two-time winners could not get past the rival defensive line.
Rodriguez further piled up their agony when he doubled the lead in the 50th minute. Working the ball from the right,Pablo Armero feed Cuadrado, who headed the ball across the face of goal, where Rodriguez smashed it home.His goals took Colombia into the quarter-finals for the first time, meaning the northern Brazilian city of Fortaleza
will turn completely yellow when Jose Pekerman's side play the hosts on July 4.
Rodriguez second goal
Uruguay's fans sported Suarez masks and brandished banners in support of their wayward star, who flew home to Montevideo on Friday, while his shirt was hung up in the
Uruguay changing room. But they were to endure a night of disappointment ontheir return to the Maracana, scene of the country's seismic 2-1 win over Brazil in the deciding game of the 1950 WorldCup.
Diego Forlan replaced Suarez for Uruguay, while Colombia coach Pekerman sprang a surprise by selecting two centre-forwards in Jackson Martinez and Teofilo Gutierrez.
Although Martinez lined up on the left flank, there wasno lack of ambition to Colombia's play. Juan Cuadrado and Juan Zuniga set the tone with purposeful early runs at the Uruguay defence, with one of the latter's raids culminating in a low shot that Fernando Muslera gathered at the second attempt.
( Source : PTI )
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