Cristobal Herrera-Ulashkevich / EPA
The zero score did not tell the whole story of an intense, fast and almost always more comfortable game for the Colombians. In stoppage time, Colombia actually scored, and the Miami stadium exploded, but the party was short-lived: the tip of Dávinson Sánchez’s boot was beyond the offside line.
Portugal drew 0-0 with Colombia, this Saturday, in Miami, and finished Group K of the World Cup in second place, behind the South American team.
O a draw was enough to confirm qualification for the round of 32, but also left warning signs: Roberto Martínez’s team suffered for long periods, were often pushed back and needed a great display by Diogo Costa to leave with no goals conceded.
With five points, Portugal advances as second place and will face Croatia, in Toronto, in the early hours of Friday in Portugal.
It will also be a Cristiano Ronaldo’s reunion with Luka Modricformer colleague at Real Madrid. Colombia, who finished at the top of the group with seven points, will face Ghana in Kansas City.
The zero score did not tell the whole story of a game intense, fast and almost always more comfortable for Colombians. Néstor Lorenzo’s team started better, pushed by a noisy majority of Colombian fans at the Miami Stadium, and from early on imposed the pace that suited him best: physical, vertical and aggressive in pressing.
Portugal tried to control the midfield, but Vitinha and Rúben Neves they rarely managed to dictate the usual rhythm. On the other side, James Rodriguez and Jhon Arias found space between the lines and gave criteria to a Colombia that was looser, more dangerous and closer to the goal.
The first big threat came from Jhon Córdoba, who shot hard for Diogo Costa to save. Shortly afterwards, Arias appeared open on the right and was once again frightening, in a move that ended with Rúben Neves clearing the ball over the line. THE Colombia looked closer to 1-0 Portugal to find itself again.
Cristiano Ronaldo had little influence. In a game played with high rotation, the Portuguese captain was almost always a peripheral figurerarely served under conditions and without being able to weigh in on the attack. His main intervention in the first half was a direct free kick that came without dangerinto the arms of Camilo Vargas.
Even so, Portugal managed to react in the final stretch of the first half, mainly on the right side. João Cancelo started, crossed low and Bruno Fernandes shot first time, forcing Vargas into a tight save.
The move woke up the Portuguese teamwho threatened again shortly afterwards, with a shot from Rúben Neves from the edge of the area and an attempt to João Felix after a long throw-in.
“We couldn’t run the game the way we wanted and that opened up the match in the areas where Colombia is strongest”, admitted Roberto Martínez.
The second part brought more of the same. Colombia returned from the dressing room with intensity, pressing high and forcing Portugal to chase the ball.
Still, the first clear opportunity belonged to the Portuguese team: João Félix launched Ronaldo, who was one-on-one with Vargas and shot wide. The bid, however, had already been flagged for offside.
The Colombian response was immediate. James Rodríguez continued to command operations, varying the game and finding progression corridors. Santiago Arias crossed low from the right and Richard Rios He was very close to reaching the ball to finish. Later, Jefferson Lerma forced Diogo Costa to move away with his fists and Jhon Arias tested the Portuguese goalkeeper again from afar.
As the minutes passed, the Portuguese defense showed wear and tear. Colombia ran more, attacked with more people and always seemed closer to undoing the draw.
Diogo Costa, however, held Portugal back. He made one of the most important performances of the night, with decisive saves and safe interventions at a time when the team was on the ropes.
Roberto Martínez changed the teamlaunched alternatives and removed players like João Félix and Vitinha, but kept Ronaldo on the field despite the captain’s reduced influence. On the other side, James left with 15 minutes remaining, after a high-level performance.
Colombia still had time to believe that he had achieved the deserved goal. Near the end, Juan Fernando Quintero crossed to the second post and Davinson Sanchez headed into the back of the goal.
O Miami Stadium explodedbut the party was short-lived: VAR canceled Sánchez’s offside shot, by a minimal margin: the tip of the boot of the Colombian defender was beyond the off-side line.
Sánchez shook his finger in disagreement, the Colombian fans regretted the decision and Portugal breathed a sigh of relief: defeat in the game against Colombia would drop the national team to third place. In the other Group game, Congo won Uzbekistan 3-1 and also secured passage to the knockout stage.
For Colombia, it was frustration of a triumph that seemed possible until the last moment. For Portugal, the classification wasbut also evidence that the margin for error has narrowed.
A national team advances to the knockout stagewhere there will be no room for broken games, for long periods of finishing or for such a great dependence on Diogo Costa. Against Modric’s Croatia, Portugal will have to be more than resilient — will have to get back to running the game.
