Columbia Defeat Toothless Uruguay

 2-0 

The all South American Saturday continued with Columbia taking on Uruguay.  Obviously with a four month suspension to Luis Suárez Uruguay would have to look elsewhere for goals and the veteran Diego Forlán was called on to fill in the gap.  Forlán started the first match for Uruguay against Costa Rica that ended in a three-one defeat.  Today Uruguay were not much better with Forlán up top and fell to Columbia.

A poor clearance by Uruguayan defender Álvaro Pereira gave the ball to Abel Aguilar.  With a first-touch header pass, Aguilar played the ball forward to James Rodríguez.  The Columbian number 10 surprised keeper Muslera when he took the pass from Aguilar down off his chest then hit the shot on the volley.  Rodríguez hit the volley just right and scored the only goal of the first-half (28').

Uruguay were not getting anything out of their forwards in the first-half.  Diego Forlán did not get a single shot off and Edinson Cavani's best chance was a free-kick over the bar.  Uruguay were not able to fix their problems over the break and Columbia added a second goal early in the second-half.

A cross from the left side into the box was met by Juan Cuadrado at the back post.  Cuadrado headed the ball back across the face of goal and James Rodríguez was in position to turn the ball into the net (50').

Uruguay could not muster much of an offensive response; their best chance to score coming with about ten minutes left in the match.  Maxi Pereira found himself in behind the Columbia defense, but could only manage a toe-poke shot that went straight to keeper Ospina.

Clearly Uruguay are not as dangerous without Luis Suárez.  Cavani and Forlán were not good enough to make up for his absence and Uruguay could not capitalize on set-pieces.  Columbia on the other hand have been fantastic on the attack and James Rodríguez now leads the tournament scoring with five goals in four matches.