Thank you all for joining me today. The World Cup gave us a Messi hat-trick this time yesterday,. it took away my appetite for four matches in a row today. Jonathan Wilson had the best seat in the house at the Azteca to witness it all. I will leave you with his thoughts at the final whistle.
“I popped into my local having just finished work,” begins a thirsty Phil Withall. “There are three Colombian supporters sat in front of a big screen making enough noise for about 50 people. That’s what the world cup is all about and I love it.”
Hear hear. (p.s. mine’s a Guiness, ta)
I have just updated my Bracketology following a day that saw England impress and Portugal fail to fire.
Uzbekistan applied themselves commendably, especially after half-time. They sat back in a 5-4-1 before the break but started to expand as the game wore on. Fayzullaev is a worthy scorer of the country’s maiden World Cup goal.
That is now three defeats and a draw for the four debutants at this tournament.
However, Portugal’s draw with DR Congo earlier in the day has opened the door for Colombia to take control of Group K,. they have done just that.
Diaz showed flashes in the final third, the fullbacks were busy on the overlap,. Lerma and Puerta were strong in midfield, but there wasn’t much to get the neutrals excited about that performance.
Lorenzo is clearly fond of slow methodical possession. which doesn’t make for an open game of football, especially in the modern age of tactical fouling to disrupt transitions before they build momentum.
A quick glance at the scoreboard. you might be forgiven for thinking this was an exciting entertaining game of football that demonstrated Colombia’s potential to go deep into this World Cup. In truth it was a laboured affair between limited debutants and the chronically risk averse South Americans.
It wasn’t pretty but Colombia begin their World Cup campaign with three goals and three points.
Hernandez chases a lost cause in the right corner, works like a terrier, whips over a cross. Campaz plants the header beyond Yusupov at the far post. Campaz will be the name on the scoresheet but the goal is all Hernandez’s.
90+8 mins: The ball is flung into the box but it’s too hard and too straight. Colombia are delighted to watch it drift behind for a goal kick.
90+7 mins: The underdogs win a free-kick about 35m from goal just to the left of the D. One final opportunity to create something.
90+6 mins: Uzbekistan cannot get the ball near the Colombia box.
90+5 mins: The ball gets lashed into the Colombia box but there’s no Uzbek there to attack it.
90+4 mins: One final round of substitutions with Sergeev replacing Somurodov. Castano and Gomez coming on for Diaz and Arias.
90+3 mins: Or was THAT the chance? Uzbekistan are playing their best football of the night in the dying stages. There’s build-up on the right then a decisive incursion on the left. The low cross is wicked. glances the head of Khamdamov before being bundled out of harm’s way at the far post.
90+1 min: Eight minutes of stoppage time for Colombia to hold on.
90 mins: Was that the chance!? Good work down the left, the ball is fizzed into the feet of Mozgovoy on the corner of the box. He clears his feet beautifully then opens his body to fashion the shot –. curls his sidefoot over the bar.
89 mins: The delivery is superb, powerful. dipping, but all the runners are to the near post and the corner travels beyond them all and out to safety.
88 mins: Now Khamdamov sees a long range shot deflected behind for a corner.
87 mins: Campaz now fails to trouble the goalkeeper with time to open his body. curl a left footed effort from the edge of the box.
86 mins: The corner is headed back across goal at the far post. Diaz does well to keep it in play, tees up Lerma for the finish,. the midfielder can’t hit the target from 10 yards out with the goal at his mercy.
85 mins: Colombia mount a gentle sortie and earn a corner on the left from a blocked cross. They are in no hurry to take it.
84 mins: The White Wolves are really struggling to do anything on the ball. despite Colombia allowing them to have it. Shukurov tries to up the tempo and wins a free-kick near halfway. He gets up and overhits the set piece.
83 mins: Colombia are hanging back, allowing Uzbekistan to enjoy possession in midfield.
82 mins: Mojica leathers the volatile Trionda miles back into the Azteca stands from about 30m out.
81 mins: Munoz makes an interception while sat on his backside. Shomorudov is frustrated by it all and slides in needlessly by the touchline. You’ve seen bookings for less, but not tonight.
80 mins: Since the drinks break the match has yet to get going again with repeat stoppages, substitutions and whatnot. Speaking of which, Rios and Hernandez enter the fray for Colombia. Puerta and Suarez make way.
79 mins: Disappointed to see Fayzullaev taken off. I think he has a bright future at a decent level.
78 mins: Two more subs for Uzbekistan: off go Ashurmatov and Fayzullaev, on come Urozov and Amonov.
77 mins: The free-kick from Arias is poor.
76 mins: Now Diaz wins a free-kick on the left, getting his body between Khusanov. the ball, inviting the close contact and hitting the deck.
74 mins: Diaz wins the flick on in the air from the long ball from Vargas,. as chaos threatens to unfold in the box the flag goes up for offside.
72 mins: Uzbekistan try to open the field up with another long crossfield switch, but the execution is a little off. Colombia clear. They gift possession straight back through, which they seem happy with, to allow them to adopt their defensive structure. protect their narrow lead.
70 mins: James gets a breather. Campaz comes on for the final quarter.
68 mins: Time for another drink and a chance for Cannavaro to earn his corn.
66 mins: That was disappointing from Uzbekistan, conceding so soon after they had equalised. They were caught out badly in transition and left themselves exposed to the counter. Diaz did a decent job with his finish. he will have better efforts on goal saved during this World Cup.
Shomorudov gets his pocket picked in midfield. Colombia stream forward and feed Diaz early on the left. He cuts inside onto this right foot and curls a shot towards the far corner. It’s saveable but Yusupov can only parry the ball and watch it dribble inside the post.
Luis Diaz puts Colombia back in front!
65 mins: The tiny pocket of Uzbekistan fans are banging drums and dancing in unison. But not for long…
64 mins: Colombia immediately up the tempo. have two or three shooting opportunities in the box that are either turned down or blocked. The last of which ends in a corner that James overhits.
62 mins: That was poor goalkeeping from Vargas but Uzbekistan are worth their goal for an improved second-half showing.
Shomorudov does well to hold up play then run off into the box ready for the return cutback from the byline. The delivery is long but the striker does superbly to fashion an acrobatic volley that Vargas can’t handle. Fayzullaev is the fox in the box ready to pounce on the ricochet. nod the ball into the empty net.
Out of nowhere Uzbekistan are level!
57 mins: A bit more first-half action for a couple of minutes with neither side capable of stringing anything interesting together. Then Colombia get a little room only for James to fail to find the overlap runner on the right.
55 mins: Both teams step out smartly to exchange important turnovers in transition. Uzbekistan then enjoy a concerted spell of possession in Colombia’s half with the South Americans dropping back into a low block. the Uzbeks are furious they don’t win a free-kick for Fayzullaev being challenged from behind. the referee is not forthcoming.
53 mins: Now Colombia can stretch their legs down the left. Mojica’s cross is awkward for Ashurmatov to deal with. he takes care of the danger at the second attempt under pressure from Arias.
52 mins: Uzbekistan have come out a different side after the break. They attack with purpose down the right, then switch a long way to Fayzullaev on the left,. his cross is headed clear. The latest in a long line of soft free-kicks ends some burgeoning flow.
50 mins: The corner is too long and a vital source of Uzbekistan’s threat is wasted.
49 mins: Fayzullaev gets some more joy down the left and his blocked cross earns a corner. Uzbekistan have switched their most creative player from the right flank to the left. perhaps to exploit space in behind the raiding Munoz.
48 mins: Fayzullaev gets on the ball in some space down the inside-left channel but he fails to execute a backheel. Colombia clear. Uzbekistan deal with the counter. then Arias is lucky not to be booked as he commits a professional foul under Taylor’s nose.
47 mins: The White Wolves brought on Khamdamov and Sayfiev at the break for Nasrullaev and Urunov.
46 mins: What have Uzbekistan got for us in this second-half? A false start kick-off, of course. This has not been Anthony Taylor’s finest night by any stretch.
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