David Luiz stunning free kick
sends hosts through to the Semi Finals.
The center back lashed into the net a stunning free
kick after Thiago Silva’s early goal, with
James Rodriguez scoring a penalty before Neymar was forced off in the dying
minutes.
A wonderstrike from
David Luiz helped Brazil
to a 2-1 World Cup
quarter-final win over
Colombia but star
forward Neymar was stretchered off in the
closing minutes.
Tipped by some to exit against a side who have
been the talk of the tournament, Luiz Felipe
Scolari’s men progressed thanks to goals from
Thiago Silva and his defensive partner in
Fortaleza, the latter a superb 30-yard free
kick.
Man-of-the-moment James Rodriguez pulled
one back from the spot for Colombia in the
80th minute, yet Brazil held on to book a
semi-final meeting with Germany.
However, Brazil will head into the last four
with a series of worries, most notably the
suspension of Silva and an injury to star man
Neymar.
Silva picked up a needless yellow card in the
second period, while Neymar was carried off
on a stretcher late in the game.
The possible absence of both star players,combined with
another workmanlike showing, will do little to
dispel claims from the likes of Diego
Maradona that Brazil are not good enough to
win the tournament.
Despite such scrutiny, the hosts made a flying
start to surge ahead after seven minutes.
Silva was the hero, silencing his critics by
sneaking behind Carlos Sanchez and kneeing
home at the back post from close range after
Colombia fatally failed to clear Neymar’s
corner.
Behind for the first time in the competition,
Colombia found an immediate response as
Juan Cuadrado’s effort was deflected just
wide.
Yet it was still Brazil looking the more
purposeful, Hulk twice forcing good stops from
David Ospina.
Colombia wasted a James-led four-on-two
counterattack in between those saves, with the
game’s end-to-end nature making for a
thrilling spectacle.
The second period did not assume the same
pace, Jose Pekerman’s side failing to find the
fluency that has been their calling card.
Indeed, the biggest moment of those
exchanges came when Silva collided with Ospina
as the Colombia shot-stopper attempted to
kick from his hands, the subsequent yellow
card ruling him out of the next phase.
With chances few and far between, it took a
moment of brilliance from Luiz to leave Brazil
on the brink of the last four after 69 minutes.
James, so often Colombia’s star, crucially
brought down Hulk 30 yards from goal, paving
the way for Luiz to send a stunning strike
beyond Ospina.
But just when it seemed a nation could calm
down, there was a twist in the tail when Julio
Cesar felled Carlos Bacca in the area.
The goalkeeper was fortunate to be shown
a yellow card, although that had little impact on
tournament top-scorer James – who continued
his record of scoring in every game when he
coolly sent Cesar the wrong way.
As if the tension was not palpable enough,
many in attendance were left with heads in
hands late on as Neymar was taken from the
field after being caught by Zuniga in the
dying minutes.
Brazil defended defiantly during injury time
to seal their semi-final spot against Germany
and continue their quest for a sixth world
title.