Brazil 2-1 Colombia: The centre-backs showed the way

Full-time: Brazil 2-1 Colombia
Goals: Thiago Silva (7′), David Luiz (69′), James Rodríguez (80′)
Match date: July 4, 2014
Stadium: Estádio Castelão, Fortaleza
Competition: FIFA World Cup 2014, Quarter-finals
Brazil line-up: Julio César, Maicon, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Marcelo, Fernandinho, Paulinho, Óscar, Hulk, Neymar, Fred.

It was one of the most expected games in this World Cup quarter-finals and it certainly didn’t defraud expectations. Brazil got the better off Colombia in Fortaleza by beating them by 2-1, but they also had to deal with a huge blow already very near the end of the match, following a very unfortunate incident between Zuniga and Neymar. The Napoli defender hit the Brazilian star on the back with his knee and has injured Neymar for the next 4 to 6 weeks. This obviously means that the 22-year old forward will miss the rest of the FIFA World Cup and that Brazil will also have to find a way to win their next two games without their biggest star…

The first goal in the game was precisely born from a corner-kick assist by Neymar, who’s cross in the 7th minute of the 1st half allowed for Thiago Silva to open the hostilities in Fortaleza. The PSG centre defender was strategically left staring at the far post and when the ball ended up passing a pack of players inside Colombia’s box, he made sure to not miss such a clear-cut opportunity to put Brazil on the lead. The goal was actually very similar to the one David Luiz already had scored in the previous round against Chile, but this time it was up to Thiago Silva to bury it into the back of the net.

Deep in the second half, Brazil got to reach to their second goal thanks to a stunning direct free-kick taken by David Luiz. The former Chelsea centre defender scored what has to be considered one of the most beautiful goals in this World, after beating Ospina with a long range 35-yards strike. The shot resembled a sort of a mix of a Juninho Pernambucano and Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick, leaving barely no chance at all for the Colombian goalkeeper to even attempt to get his hands on the ball.

Colombia got to react in the last 10 minutes, when James Rodríguez converted a penalty-kick that reduced the lead to a 1-goal difference. However, it was written in the stars that it would be Brazil going through into the semi-finals and even though they lost Neymar to injury around the 88th minute of the game, the “Escrete” resisted to the Colombian’s final charge and advanced into the next stage of the tournament. Next Tuesday, Brazil will meet Germany in this World Cup first semi-finals, but knowing that they’ll have to get past the “Mannschaft” without the help of Neymar (injured) and Thiago Silva (suspended).

Neymar‘s World Cup participation is over and the Brazilian medical staff have already confirmed that he fractured his third lumbar vertebra (L3), which located in his lower back.

We’ll keep delivering you more news and updates on Neymar‘s injury over the next hours and days…

Sources:  bbc.com / dailymail.co.uk / nydailynews.com

 

Brazil and Neymar match photos against Colombia: