Colombia into Copa quarters after romp while Brazil rolls

GLENDALE, United States: Colombia marched into the quarter-finals of the Copa America on Friday with a confident 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in Arizona.

Goals from Luis Diaz, Davinson Sanchez and Jhon Cordoba sealed all three points for the Colombians, who are now guaranteed a top-two finish in Group D. 

Colombia will qualify for the quarter-finals as group winners if they can secure at least a point against Brazil -- a 4-1 winner over Paraguay in Friday´s other Copa contest -- in their final group game next Tuesday.

The Colombians will head into that game brimming with confidence after extending their unbeaten streak to 25 games at Glendale´s State Farm Stadium on Friday.

Nestor Lorenzo´s well-organised side have not lost since a defeat to Argentina in February 2022, and never looked in danger of changing that Friday.

Liverpool star Diaz opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 31st minute after Costa Rica goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira inexplicably crashed into Cordoba on the edge of the area.

Diaz stepped up to smash an emphatic spot-kick into the top corner.

Colombia almost doubled their tally on 37 minutes, with veteran midfielder James Rodriguez picking out Diaz at the back post.

Diaz poked a cross into the six-yard area but center-back Sanchez just couldn´t get a touch to guide the ball into the net.

Sanchez made no such mistake in the 59th minute, however, as he glanced in Jhon Arias´s cross from the left to make it 2-0.

Cordoba then grabbed Colombia´s third on 62 minutes with the best goal of the game.

An exquisite through ball from Rodriguez split the Costa Rica defence and sent Cordoba racing in on goal, with the 31-year-old whipping a shot across goal into the far corner.

In Las Vegas, the Brazilians -- coming off a 0-0 draw with Costa Rica -- jumped to a 3-0 halftime edge over Paraguay on the way to victory after squandering a golden chance to open the scoring.

Paraguay´s Adrian Cubas, who would receive a red card in the 81st minute, committed a foul in the penalty area, but Brazil´s Lucas Paqueta missed from the spot in the 31st minute.

But Paqueta delivered an assist to set up Vincius Junior´s goal in the 35th minute that gave Brazil a 1-0 lead.

Savinho doubled Brazil´s lead with a goal in the 43rd minute and Vincius Junior gave Brazil a 3-0 half-time lead in the fifth minute of stoppage time, racing in behind the play and delivering a right-footed shot just inside the left post.

Paraguay answered in the 48th minute on a goal by Omar Alderete but Paqueta scored on a redemption penalty kick in the 65th minute for a 4-1 Brazil lead and that´s how it finished.

Brazil coach Dorival Jr extolled Vinicius Jr’s skill on the field after the Real Madrid forward propelled Brazil to a 4-1 Copa America victory over Paraguay on Friday.

Vinicius terrorised Paraguay’s defence with his pace and trickery as he scored two goals in an impressive display, a far cry from his performance in Brazil’s 0-0 draw with Costa Rica in their opening group stage match, in which he was largely ineffectual.

“Today he played a very important role,” Dorival told reporters, speaking with the help of a translator.

“He played an almost perfect match, he created very good situations and opportunities. He was dynamic, very effective and straightforward and direct.

“He played well with other players and teamed up nicely, he has great capacity.”

Brazil next face group leaders Colombia in California on Tuesday, where a draw would be enough to secure qualification for the quarter-finals. “I think that we’ll have a match of a very high level, with players that know each other, that usually play against each other,” Dorival said.