Colombia finished Group
C with three wins from
three as Jackson
Martinez scored twice to
seal a 4-1 win over
Japan on Tuesday.
Jose Pekerman’s side, so impressive in
securing wins over Greece and Cote d’Ivoire
earlier in the tournament, were already
assured of qualification and knew a draw
would be enough to secure their passage as
group winners. Japan, meanwhile, needed to
win and hope the result between Cote d’Ivoire
and Greece went their way in order to
progress.
The South Americans hit the front shortly
after the quarter-hour mark, Juan Cuadrado
smashing home a penalty after Yasuyuki
Konno had fouled Adrian Ramos.
Japan equalised on the stroke of half-time,
Shinji Okazaki squeezing a header inside the
near post to raise hopes of qualifying.
Yet Colombia then pulled clear in the second
half, Jackson Martinez scoring twice following
assists from half-time substitute James
Rodriguez, who added a delightful late
fourth.
Colombia will now take on Uruguay in the
second round, while Japan exit the
tournament having finished bottom of their
group.
Japan made the stronger start as Colombia
struggled to find their feet having made eight
changes from their victory over Cote d’Ivoire.
However, it was the South Americans who went
in front after 17 minutes, following their first
real foray forward.
Konno needlessly brought down Ramos inside
the area, and Cuadrado dispatched the spot-
kick, prompting further choreographed
celebrations from the Colombians.
Japan responded well, Shinji Kagawa creating
space on the edge of the box before firing in a
low shot which was tipped behind by David
Ospina.
Keisuke Honda was the next man to go close,
sending a dipping free kick narrowly wide of
the right-hand post in the 33rd minute.
Colombia ought to have doubled their lead
three minutes before the interval, Martinez
firing wide of the target from 14 yards after
being picked out by Ramos.
They were made to rue that miss soon
afterwards, with Okazaki flicking home
Honda’s right-wing cross with the final touch
of the half.
Half-time substitute Carlos Carbonero wasted
a golden chance to restore Colombia’s
advantage in the 54th minute, stabbing the
ball over the crossbar after a devilish ball in
from fellow replacement James.
It mattered little as Martinez made it 2-1 a
minute later, taking a touch and firing low
beyond Eiji Kawashima after a nicely-
weighted pass from James inside the area.
Eder Alvarez Balanta was perhaps lucky to
escape punishment after his forearm struck
the face of Okazaki in the corner, drawing
blood from the nose of the Japan goalscorer.
Honda continued to pose a threat from set-
pieces, bringing a save out of Ospina with a
rasping free kick in the 64th minute.
Yoshito Okubo went close a minute later,
meeting Atsuto Uchida’s low cross at pace only
to see his close-range effort fly over the bar.
Martinez doubled his tally eight minutes from
time with a cool finish, and moments later
Kagawa summed up a disappointing campaign
for the Japanese by firing wide with just
Ospina to beat from close range.
There was a notable moment five minutes
before the end, as 43-year-old goalkeeper
Faryd Mondragon – retiring after the
tournament – was brought on in place of
Ospina to become the oldest player in World
Cup history.
James, one of the players of the tournament
so far, showed his class in the 90th minute to
round off the scoring, turning Maya Yoshida
inside out and dinking an impudent finish
over Kawashima, before Mondragon made an
injury-time save to deny Yoichiro Kakitani.
