(AP) — Colombia’s plan was nearly perfectly executed.
Didn’t matter — it goes into the knockout stage as a group winner.
Colombia finished the World Cup ’s opening round as the Group K winner after playing Portugal to a scoreless draw Saturday night at Hard Rock Stadium in front of an electric crowd of supporters, the majority of whom were clad in Colombia’s bright yellow jerseys.
“We were the better team and deserved to win,” Colombia coach Néstor Lorenzo said.
“I think we created so many chances.
The players were outstanding against a top contender … not only did we play them on equal terms, we dictated the terms.
I think playing against a rival like that, showing this kind of football to all these people, in this heat, was incredible.” He wasn’t wrong.
Colombia had 24 of the game’s 37 attempts on goal, never wilting despite the game-time temperature topping 90 degrees (32 degrees Celsius.).
Both squads had already secured spots in the knockout stage before the match, needing only to learn their opponents for the next round.
Colombia opens the knockouts on July 3 against Ghana, which entered with one of the lowest FIFA rankings but also played England to a scoreless tie during the group stage.