Colombia 3 - Greece 0

Photo by Paul Gilham

Greece were looking to use their counterattacking style to place pressure on Group C favorites Colombia in their opening group match in Belo Horizonte. However, Colombia quickly put Greece on the back foot early. Attacking midfielder James Rodriguez was the dominant player on the pitch. Guillermo Cuadrado shook his marker, Jose Holebas, drove the ball up the right flank for Colombia, and then sent a ball into the box. Rodriguez was making the run to the near post, but he decided to dummy over the ball after seeing that he had taken both Greek defenders with him on the run. Left back Pablo Armero (pictured, yellow #7)  was waiting behind him for the ball. Armero's shot was heading into the goal when it was deflected by Konstantinos Manolas. The ball still made its way into the net to give Colombia a 1-0 lead. The very next minute, the Greeks nearly pulled level. Panagiotis Kone shot off the bounce from his first touch after receiving a pass from the left flank sent in by Georgios Samaras. Kone's shot curled toward the back post but sailed just wide. The rest of the half was rather subdued, but Colombia looked the stronger side. Los Cafeteros took their 1-0 lead with them into their locker room.

Rodriguez played a corner kick to the near post. Abel Aguilar beat everytime reek to the near post and flicked the ball onto the back post for Teofilo Gutierrez to apply the finishing touch. Greece tried to get back in the game, but were unable to manufacture enough chances. Their best came from a two pass sequence. Kone swung a ball to the far post which was volleyed across the six-yard box by advanced right back Vasileios Torosidis. Theofanis Gekas smashed his open header into the crossbar, and Greece's chances sailed back up the pitch with the ball. Late in stoppage time, Rodriguez scored a goal of his own. Cuadrado hit a backheel pass inside the box to Rodriguez, who then maneuvered onto his favored left foot inside the Greek penalty area and finished with aplomb. Colombia win 3-0 to stake their claim of supremacy in Group C.

Goals
Colombia
Pablo Armero 5
Teofilo Gutierrez 58
James Rodriguez

Match Reports:
http://soccer.si.com/soccer/planet-futbol/2014/06/14/colombia-world-cup-falcao-james-rodriguez-jose-pekerman-greece?eref=sihp
http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup/4/blog/post/1880938/three-points-by-andy-mitten-on-colombias-3-0-win-over-greece

Highlights:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/highlights/match=300186471/index.html