BRASILIA // Jose Pekerman, unlike the Colombia side that he coaches, displayed a reluctance to look ahead despite defeating Ivory Coast 2-1. His troupe of South Americans – always looking forward; always looking to score – attacked relentlessly for 90 minutes last night as they secured a second successive group stage win for the first time in World Cup history.
In 1990, Colombia squeezed through to the knockout stages after finishing third from a group of four that included the UAE. Here though, 24 years later, they look destined to top Group C after two well-taken second-half goals by James Rodriguez and substitute Juan Quintero ensured a wonderful solo effort by Gervinho was not enough for their Africans opponents to leave with a share of the points.
Yet Pekerman refused to get carried away.
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"It is a great pleasure to see Colombia at this level," he said. "First to see us at the World Cup after such a prolonged period of time, then winning two successive games for first time. But we have to think only about the next match, rather than what might come later on. There is lots to analyse and in the meantime, we have to watch what the other teams are doing."
With both teams opting to attack from deep, the early stages proved as open as a window on a warm afternoon. And it was a warm afternoon: Brasilia's famously dry climate had reached around 27 degrees by kick-off. Sabri Lamouchi, the Africans coach, refused to use the temperature as an excuse, yet it was his side that found themselves on the back-foot from kick-off; thankful only for their opponent's misfiring in front of goal.
At the end of a goalless first-half, Colombia had managed just one shot on target and Teofilo Gutierrez, in particular, was guilty of profligacy.
Didier Drogba had proved inspirational in Ivory Coast' s 2-1 win over Japan, with both his side's goals coming within four minutes of the Galatasaray striker's 62nd minute introduction. Yet he was not introduced until the hour-mark. And again, his involvement sparked goals – although this time not in the way he would have liked.
First, in the 64th minute, the ever-impressive Rodriguez lost Drogba at a corner to power home a header for his second goal in as many games. Then, six minutes later, Colombia doubled their lead through substitute Quintero, who finished a quick counter-attack. Ivory Coast remained true to their attacking game and Gervinho, an entirely different player to the winger who failed to shine at Arsenal, wonderfully danced through a sea of bodies before firing past David Ospina.
"The last few minutes, being just one goal away from taking only a draw, meant there was a level of insecurity," Pekerman said. "But we held on and having such points brings tranquillity. We now have lots to analyse; we have to see how the group is set up. We will still play against Japan, one of our other major opponents who, aside from the first defeat, will grow and are capable of fighting to qualify."
It is true that with 18 minutes remaining, Ivory Coast had pushed for another, but it rarely looked likely. Pekerman experienced similar in 2006 as coach of Argentina when Drogba pulled a goal back late on. The Africans also lost that tie 2-1 and if they are to progress for the first time in their three-campaign history, they will now likely require a win against Greece on Tuesday.
"We can be proud of ourselves," Lamouchi said. "It would be unfair to say we deserved to lose. A draw would be more deserved. Colombia waited for us to make mistakes, and when we did, they hit us the hard way. Now we have to go and fight for a victory against Greece. It's very simple."
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