Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Belo Horizonte: Colombia recorded their biggest World Cup win on Saturday as goals from Pablo Armero, Teófilo Gutiérrez and James Rodriguez saw the South Americans defeat 2004 European champions Greece as Japan's Group C opponents met at the Estadio Meneirao.The winning margin beat their previous biggest victory of 2-0, recorded in 1990 and 1994 against the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland respectively.
Colombia, who went into the match without talismanic striker Radamel Falcao, set the early pace and were rewarded for their efforts with just six minutes played through then unlikely source of defender Pablo Armero, whose shot from inside the penalty area took a telling deflection off of Konstantinos Manolas before trundling past Greece keeper Orestis Karnezis.
The Napoli left back's effort, his second international goal following his maiden strike in a 5-0 qualifying win over Bolivia, was Colombia's first goal in the World Cup finals since Leider Preciado, who had a spell in Saudi Arabia with Al Shabab, scored the winner in Los Cafeteros 1-0 win over Tunisia at France 1998.
Greece came close to equalising just 60 seconds later when Panagiotis Kone curled the ball wide of the post after being teed up by Celtic star Georgios Samaras before the Albania-born midfielder, who plays his club football in Italy with Bologna, saw another curling effort in first-half stoppage time saved well by Colombia keeper David Ospina.
Colombia extended their advantage in the 58th minute when Teófilo Gutiérrez poked the ball home from inside the six-yard box after Abel Aguilar flicked on James Rodriguez's corner.
Greece should have reduced the deficit four minutes later but Theofanis Gekas headed against the crossbar with the goal at his mercy after Ospina had attempted to prevent Vasilis Torosidis from cutting the ball across the Colombia penalty box from the touchline.
The glaring miss was Gekas' last involvement in the match before making way for Konstantinos Mitroglou but the Fulham frontman couldn't help his team find a way back into the game as Greece sixth defeat in seven World Cup matches was sealed when Rodriguez fired low into Karnezis' right-hand corner in stoppage time.
Photo: AFP