Colombia vs Paraguay. Copa America Group A.
Rose Bowl.
Colombia 2-1 Paraguay: James Rodriguez nets in victory
Wednesday 8 June 2016 10:49, UK
Colombia qualified for the quarter-finals of the Copa America after a 2-1 Group A victory over 10-man Paraguay in Pasadena.
Carlos Bacca and James Rodriguez scored to put Colombia 2-0 up with 30 minutes gone at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday, and Victor Ayala pulled one back midway through the second half before Oscar Romero was given his marching orders for a second booking.
Colombia bossed the opening exchanges and Rodriguez went close before they took a 12th-minute lead.
Bacca held off his marker to power home a header from a corner and Rodriguez then went close to adding a second but Justo Villar punched his effort clear.
Rodriguez was a real thorn in the side of the Paraguay defence and after going close yet again, it was no surprise that it was he who doubled the advantage on the half-hour mark.
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Bacca burst into the box and despite losing possession the ball was deflected into the path of Rodriguez, who drilled home a low shot.
Paulo Da Silva thought he had got Paraguay back into the game four minutes later when he turned the ball past goalkeeper David Ospina from a free-kick but his joy was cut short by the linesman's flag.
And it took a superb save from Ospina in the 62nd minute to keep Paraguay at bay when he blocked Romero's header from a corner.
Bacca then had a goal disallowed for offside moments before Paraguay pulled a goal back through Ayala.
Ayala collected the ball 30 yards from goal and unleashed a superb effort into the top corner.
Paraguay's task got tougher when Romero was sent off for a second booking in the space of three minutes when he pulled back Rodriguez and Colombia held on for victory.
Jose Pekerman's side top Group A by three points from the USA, who beat Costa Rica 4-0 in Chicago. In the final group games on Saturday, Colombia take on Costa Rica in Houston and the USA meet Paraguay in Philadelphia.
The tournament continues on Wednesday with games in Group B - Brazil meet Haiti in Orlando and Ecuador face Peru in Glendale, Arizona.
Watch the Copa America live on Premier Sports
