James Rodriguez scored twice as Colombia claimed their first World Cup quarterfinals appearance with a 2-0 win over two-time champions Uruguay and set up a clash with hosts Brazil, who edged out Chile 3-2 on penalties in the second round today.
The 22-year-old Rodriguez struck on both halves of the match to not only send Uruguay home but also emerge as the leading goalscorer of the World Cup so far with five goals in four matches.
Rodriguez notched up one of the most magnificent goals of the World Cup in the 28th minute when he took the ball on his chest just outside the penalty area and spun in a flash before smashing it left-footed over the fingertips of Muslera.
Colombia had the majority of ball possession initially and even though Uruguay, sans banned Luis Suarez, tried to dominate in the fag end of the first half, the two-time winners could not get past the rival defensive line.
Rodriguez further piled up their agony when he doubled the lead in the 50th minute. Working the ball from the right, Pablo Armero feed Cuadrado, who headed the ball across the face of goal, where Rodriguez smashed it home.
Earlier, hosts Brazil squeezed into the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup after a pulsating 3-2 penalty shootout win over heartbroken Chile at Belo Horizonte.
Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar saved Mauricio Pinilla and Alexis Sanchez’s attempts, while Gonzalo Jara’s shot hit the post after the prequarter-final had been locked at 1-1 after extra time.
For five-time winners Brazil, David Luiz, Marcelo and Neymar were the scorers, while Willian and Hulk missed out in the penalty shootout.
Chile, who were bidding to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since hosting the tournament in 1962, could have won the match in the last minute of extra-time but Pinilla’s shot crashed off the crossbar.
Brazil too could have gone ahead in the 55th minute when Hulk had shot home a long ball from the left in the penalty area but English referee Howard Webb disallowed the goal and rather booked Hulk for handball.
At the Maracana, the second round match once again laid bare Uruguay’s dependence on striker Luiz Suarez, who was slapped a four-month ban for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini.
Uruguay looked toothless without Suarez and even though Edinson Cavani tried his best he failed to take the mantle from the Liverpool man.
Looking to wipe out the deficit, Cavani created an opportunity in the 84th minute when he struck a shot that was heading for the bottom corner but goalkeeper David Ospina got into position quickly to tip it around the post.
Ospina was kept busy by Uruguay but the goalkeeper successfully defended the shots from Alvaro Gonzalez, Cristian Rodriguez, Cavani and Maxi Pereira.
Uruguay’s J Gimenez and Diego Lugano and Colombia’s Pablo Armero were shown the yellow card during the match.
Earlier, the first game of the knockout stage turned out to be a gripping affair as both Brazil and Chile battled bravely for the normal time and extra—time but could not break the 1—1 deadlock.
David Luiz had put Brazil ahead in the 18th minute when he kneed home after Thiago Silva flicked the ball at the near post following a corner kick by Neymar.
Down 0-1, Chile kept the pressure on and it paid off when Brazil made a defensive error on the left, giving the ball away from a throw—in.
Alexis Sanchez made good use of the opportunity as he brought up the equaliser, sending the ball at the bottom corner, beating Thiago Silva and goalkeeper Julio Cesar on the way in the 32nd minute.
Brazil tried to hit back straight away with Neymar rising above his marker to head at goal, but the ball went wide after getting deflected on the way.
In the first half, Neymar made quite a few run in the rival box and could have had a goal or two but he was always crowded out by the Chile defenders. He, however, faded in the second half.
Chile, who were knocked out by Brazil at the same stage in their last two World Cup appearances in 1998 and 2010 as well, almost scored just seconds before the halftime when Sanchez robbed the Brazilian defense and slipped a pass to Charles Aranguiz but he could not steer it home.