Colombia opened their Earth Cup Group K project with a 3-1 triumph over Uzbekistan at the Estadio Azteca on Wednesday, as Daniel Munoz, Luis Diaz and Jaminton Campaz struck to landed over a perky 2nd-fifty percent answer from the party debutants.
Uzbekistan were disciplined for long periods under Fabio Cannavaro but Colombia’s better attribute told in front of a throng of over 80,000 on a funky, rain-tinged night.
Colombia, Copa America joggers-upward, had early sights of purpose through Jhon Arias and James Rodriguez, but Uzbekistan sat deep, junked gamely and waited for miscues. Bekhruz Karimov almost profited once he bristled forward, lone for Jhon Lucumi to interfere in the past he could shoot.
Diaz had the clearest opportunity of the opening fifty percent once he struck the message, in the past Abdukodir Khusanov slid in after the winger had banged the spheric past him, snagging out both the Colombian player and a pitchside cameraman who relevant service provider treatment.
Uzbekistan’s resistance last but not least injured in the 40th minute.
Diaz congregated the spheric after an blow had overstepped down and clipped a alright enact apt into the trail of Daniel Munoz, who guided abode a funky coating for his 3rd international purpose.
“I’ve already told Luis Diaz that once he obtained the spheric, he gawked at me for the cross. He sent me an sensational spheric; all I had to implement was coating it,” Munoz told Colombian TV.
The enormous Colombian set emerged, their yellow t shirts making the Azteca look and cogent almost prefer abode. Necromancies of “Vamos Colombia”, acclimated from a Club America-oomph carolers, blasted approximately the headway, while Uzbekistan’s tiny band of visionaries addressed with drums of their super own.
Initially Earth Cup purpose for Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan concocted after the reprieve and equalised on the hour with the rural’s initially Earth Cup purpose.
Dostonbek Khamdamov fed Eldor Shomurodov, whose inoculation from the apt side of the box was conserved lowered by Camilo Vargas. The goalkeeper could not grip it, but, and Abbosbek Fayzullaev reacted in the rebound from comfy smorgasbord.
Their finalize satisfaction lasted lone 5 mins. Gustavo Puerta unleashed Diaz in the 65th minute and the forward side-footed throughout purpose to reestablish Colombia’s lead. The throng reacted with chants of Diaz’s label, “Lucho, Lucho”.
“I operated and battled for this. I am living out my early childhood dream of tinkering in a Earth Cup with my nationwide crew, and it’s also much more detailed to have added a purpose and an assist,” Diaz told correspondents.
“I am in optimal physical and psychological malady; this is my initially Earth Cup, and it is madly systematic,” he incorporated.
Uzbekistan saved inspiring. Akmal Mozgovoy inoculation directly off target in reduction time, Karimov hit the bar with an effort from proximity and Azizbek Amonov had a inoculation clogged after Otabek Shukurov’s enact.
But Colombia had the need, Campaz racking upward at the fatality to solve a competition in which Nestor Lorenzo’s side had 15 attempts to Uzbekistan’s 9 and long term their sturdy recent team-stage record to 7 victories in eight Earth Cup suits.
Cannavaro, 20 years after lifting the Earth Cup as Italy captain, became lone the fourth Ballon d’Or victor to appear at a Earth Cup as both player and coach, obeying Franz Beckenbauer, Oleg Blokhin and Marco van Basten.
Ecuador face DR Congo on Tuesday in Guadalajara after Uzbekistan play Portugal in Houston.
