Colombia dominates Costa Rica to reach Copa America quarterfinals

Davinson Sanchez and Jhon Cordoba scored three minutes apart in the second half, and Colombia advanced to the Copa America quarterfinals with a 3-0 win over Costa Rica on Friday.

Colombia controlled possession (62 per cent) for the second straight game and led 1-0 at halftime on Luis Diaz’s penalty kick in the 31st minute.

Los Cafeteros kept up the pressure in the second half and wrapped up Group D with a dominating performance in front of 27,386 pro-Colombian fans at State Farm Stadium. Colombia outshot Costa Rica 14-5 and faces Brazil on Tuesday in Santa Clara, California to close out the group stage.

Colombia has won 10 straight and is unbeaten in 25 games (20-0-5) since losing at Argentina in a World Cup qualifier in 2022. Costa Rica did not have a shot on goal.

Costa Rica had the first big surprise of the tournament, playing nine-time Copa America champion Brazil to a scoreless tie despite being outshot 18-2.

Colombia controlled possession (66 per cent) in its opening 2-1 win over Paraguay and dominated the ball early against Costa Rica.

Diaz had the first good chance in the fifth minute, just missing the crossbar on a header. James Rodriguez followed with the first shot on goal in the 20th minute, but Patrick Sequeira sprawled out for a diving save.

Diaz scored on the penalty kick after Sequeira took down a charging Cordoba at the edge of the penalty box. Los Cafeteros kept up the pressure, just missing another goal when Sanchez couldn’t get a head on Diaz’s bouncing cross.

Colombia had 71 per cent possession in the first half and kept control in the second.

Sanchez made it 2-0 with a header off a corner kick in the 59th minute. Cordoba scored when he slipped behind Costa Rica’s defence and beat Sequeira from a tough angle.

Brazil 4, Paraguay 1

Vinicius Junior scored two first-half goals to lead Brazil to a 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Friday night and put itself in position to advance out of Group D in the Copa America.

Savinho also scored a first-half goal for Brazil and Lucas Paqueta scored on a penalty kick in the second half. Omar Alderete scored Paraguay’s goal.

There were plenty of tense moments with five yellow cards and a red handed out. Andres Cubas was sent off for a red card in the 81st minute, forcing Paraguay to play the last part of the match down a man. Yellow cards were handed to Brazil’s Wendell, Junior and Paqueta and Paraguay’s Fabian Balbuena and Hernesto Caballero.

The victory was quite a response for the Seleccao Canarinho, who opened the tournament Tuesday with a scoreless draw against Costa Rica despite outshooting their opponent 18-2.

With four points, Brazil is two behind group leader Colombia, which defeated Costa Rica 3-0 earlier Friday. A victory or tie by Brazil against Colombia on Tuesday ensures one of the group’s two spots in the knockout stage. Brazil also has a six-goal differential advantage over Costa Rica, so a loss likely won’t keep out the nine-time Copa America champions.