Final, 2-0 Colombia: It’s all over in Rio de Janiero. Colombia defeats Uruguay and advances to the quarterfinal.
Colombia had the better of play for most of the game, but Uruguay took control after going down 2-0 and pushed the victors all the way to the end.
Colombia prevailed in the end thanks to the supreme quality of its attacking players — particularly Rodriguez and Cuadrado — and Ospina’s fine performance in goal.
Colombia will face Brazil on July 4 in the quarterfinal.
That’s all for now, and thanks for joining us. Let’s discuss this one on Twitter @NESNsoccer and Facebook. Be sure to keep an eye out for some news, fan reactions, analysis and opinion that is on the way on NESN.com.
90th minute, 2-0 Colombia: The referee indicates that there will be three minutes of added time in the second half.
89th minute, 2-0 Colombia: It looks as though Colombia will see out the win, as Ospina and his teammates continue to frustrate the goal-shy Uruguayans.
85th minute, 2-0 Colombia: Rodriguez departs to a thunderous ovation. Adrian Ramos replaces the goal-scoring hero.
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84th minute, 2-0 Colombia: Ospina saves Cavani’s shot.
81st minute, 2-0 Colombia: Cuadrado’s work is done. Freddy Guarin replaces the Colombia playmaker.
79th minute, 2-0 Colombia: Ospina makes another timely save for Colombia.
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Maximiliano Pereira broke in behind Colombia’s defense, but Ospina rushed off his line to make the stop.
78th minute, 2-0 Colombia: Armero is cautioned for kicking the ball away.
77th minute, 2-0 Colombia: Uruguay defender Diego Lugano is cautioned — even though he is on the bench (and injured).
74th minute, 2-0 Colombia: Uruguay continues to press forward in search of its first goal. Stuani has twice threatened Ospina’s goal. The Uruguay substitute missed with his first chance, and Ospina saved his second.
68th minute, 2-0 Colombia: Colombia makes a substitution. Gutierrez is replaced by Alexander Mejia.
67th minute, 2-0 Colombia: Uruguay makes its third and final substitution. Forward Abel Hernandez comes on for midfielder Alvaro Gonzalez.
64th minute, 2-0 Colombia: Ospina makes a fine save on Christian Rodriguez’s powerful shot from 25 yards out.
62nd minute, 2-0 Colombia: Uruguay is committing more players to the attack, which leaves space into which Colombia can launch speedy counter-attacks. It’s a high-risk strategy for Uruguay, but it has few alternatives at this point.
55th minute, 2-0 Colombia: Uruguay’s Jose Gimenez is cautioned for a foul on Teofilo Gutierrez.
53rd minute, 2-0 Colombia: Uruguay makes two substitutions. Christhian Stuani replaces Forlan at forward. Midfielder Gaston Ramirez comes on for defender Pereira.
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50th minute, 2-0 Colombia: Rodriguez scores again, and Colombia leads by two.
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The goal was the result of a flowing side-to-side move by Colombia. After some build-up play on the right, Martinez passed left to Armero, who floated a cross to the back post. Cuadrado rose highest and headed the ball into the goal-mouth where Rodriguez gratefully tapped it in.
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46th minute, 1-0 Colombia: The second half is underway.
Halftime, 1-0 Colombia: That’s the end of the first half. Colombia leads thanks to Rodriguez’s stunner.
This meeting between South American rivals was also going to be a tight and tough affair. The teams are playing with grit and focus, which produced an opening that lacked major flashpoints. Then Rodriguez scored a “goal of the tournament” contender.
Colombia out-possessed Uruguay throughout the first half and also had a territorial advantage. But Uruguay dealt with it comfortably until Rodriguez’s swerving volley set the Maracana alight.
Uruguay did not have much of the ball, and its counter-attacks often were disjointed and led to nothing. Uruguay now must rely on the individual quality of its attacking players or collectively improve going forward.
39th minute, 1-0 Colombia: After Colombia fails to clear Uruguay’s corner kick, Alvaro Gonzalez shoots on goal, but David Ospina makes a fine save.
It was Uruguay’s best scoring chance so far.
33rd minute, 1-0 Colombia: Cavani’s free kick goes over the crossbar, as Uruguay looks to respond to Rodriguez’s goal.
28th minute, 1-0 Colombia: Rodriguez puts Colombia in front with a spectacular goal.
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Rodriguez was facing his own goal when he controlled Aguilar’s headed pass with his chest. No matter. Rodriguez turned and shot past Muslera without allowing the ball to touch the ground.
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Rodriguez’s volley was one of the best goals of the tournament. Rodriguez is playing better than almost any other player at the 2014 World Cup.
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21st minute, 0-0: Godin blocks Martinez’s shot before it can threaten Muslera’s goal.
Colombia continues to control the ball without doing much with it.
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17th minute, 0-0: Colombia has the advantage in possession early on, and the game is largely being played in Uruguay’s half.
But Uruguay is well-organized and aggressively defending its own third of the field, which is preventing Colombia from creating scoring chances.
12th minute, 0-0: Colombia defender Zuniga intercepts a pass at the halfway line, races forward and shoots on goal from 35 yards out, but Muslera makes the save.
Ninth minute, 0-0: Colombia appears to be keying on the left side of Uruguay’s defense.
Colombia head coach Jose Pekerman might think Cuadrado will win his duels against Uruguay fullback Alvaro Pereira.
Fifth minute, 0-0: It has been a feisty opening, as both teams are pressing in the midfield and tackling with full force.
First minute, 0-0: Colombia-Uruguay is underway.
Kickoff: The national anthems have been sung, and the Round of 16 game is set to begin.
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Pregame: Here are the lineups:
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3:30 p.m. ET: The Round of 16 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup continues Saturday, when Uruguay takes on Colombia at the Estadio do Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.
Colombia finished first in Group C after winning all three of its games.
Uruguay qualified for the knockout rounds by finishing second in Group D.
Colombia is hoping its high-octane attack can overpower Uruguay’s suffocating defense. Colombia depends upon the likes of James Rodriguez and Juan Cuadrado to create chances, while Jackson Martinez is expected to finish them.
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Uruguay will be without star striker Luis Suarez, who is suspended for the rest of the World Cup. Edinson Cavani and Diego Forlan must fill the void if Uruguay’s World Cup adventure is to continue.
The game kicks off at 4 p.m. Stay right here for all the action.
