Nhan Dan Online – Thiago Silva and David Luiz scored to send Brazil through to the World Cup semi-final against Germany following their 2-1 victory over Colombia in a tense quarterfinal clash on July 4. Brazil attacked right from the first whistle and their proactivity paid off with a seventh-minute opener by captain Thiago Silva, who converted Neymar’s corner kick with a knee. Colombia came close to equalising the score three minutes later as Juan Cuadrado, from a Brazilian defensive lapse, curled a close-range shot which unluckily hit Thiago Silva and went off the post. The early lead drove Brazilian players to perform confidently and they would have built on their advantage in the first-half remainder, if Hulk and Oscar strikes had not been brilliantly blocked by Colombian keeper Ospina. The game seemed to be levelled for Colombia with a 66th-minute goal by Mario Yepes, which was, however, denied by referee Carlos Velasco Carballo for an earlier offside. David Luiz rubbed salt on Colombia’s wounds two minutes later, producing a powerful long-range free kick to beat goalie Ospina and make it 2-0 for Brazil. The gap was narrowed by 1-2 for Colombia following James Rodriguez’s 80th-minute penalty converter after he was fouled by Brazilian keeper Julio Cesar. However, it was not enough to rescue Colombia’s World Cup dream. Despite qualifying for the semi-final round, Brazil will be without superstar and main striking hope Neymar, who has been ruled out of the World Cup with a fractured vertebrae after being kneed in the back by Juan Zuniga. They will also be missing captain Thiago Silva, who is suspended after being booked. In another quarterfinal match the same day, Germany knocked France out of the 2014 World Cup thanks to a solitary goal scored by Mats Hummels in the 12th minute.
Posted on: Sun, 06 Jul 2014 07:58:57 +0000