Cool Carlos

Colombia And James Rodriguez Outclass USA In Tampa Friendly Match

The Colombia team rode three second-half to register to win with the score 4-2 against the United States in Tampa on Thursday night. The interim manager of United States Dave Sarachan arranged the field of XI having mixed national team veterans. It included Michael Bradley the American Captain who made his first appearance when the team could not qualify for the World Cup in 2018 – with their younger colleagues against a close first-choice Colombia side.

In the opening minutes of the match, visitors were seen at the front and were firm and could have been up with one point shortly after the kick-off had Radamel Falcao not blown a closely pointed volley perfectly over the crossbar. Julian Green had the best opportunity for the Americans in the opening 15 minutes. Then when he cut into his right foot and fired a line-drive from the outside penalty area just wide of the goal of David Ospina.

The press of Colombian finally told the break when James Rodriguez swung back on his left foot in the US penalty and curled an unstoppable shot over Zack Steffen to give Colombia a 1-0 lead at halftime. The United States came to a dream start after the break when Kellyn Acosta volleyed home at the back of an Antone Robinson cross minutes before Bobby Wood finished a counter-attack from a precise Tim Weah through the ball to make it 2-1 in favor of the hosts.

But the lead didn’t last for a long time. Santiago Arias picked out Carlos Bacca with a cutback pass that striker of Villarreal slipped home with a first shot to make it 2-2 with the timing mark approaching. Colombia again took the lead in the 74 minutes playing a fast pace game, Falcao hit a perfect first shot from Juan Quintero’s help past Steffen and Miguel Borja, making it 4-2 win.