Colombia and Paraguay tied this Tuesday no goals in the Metropolitan Stadium of Barranquilla, in the continuity of the date 14 of the South American Qualifiers Heading for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The local thus reached 17 points, above Peru (17) only by better goal difference and Uruguay (16), while the team led by Guillermo Barros Schelotto (13) has few mathematical chances to get into the World Cup.
Colombia started with the obligation to add, took advantage of the warmth of his people and also the doubts of the Paraguayan team in the middle zone during the start. The society formed by their historical referents Juan Cuadrado and James Rodríguez, and the ability of Luis Díaz became the keys to open the offensive avenues.
Paraguay was desperate and cornered from the start, with the ball stopped as the only resource although that bet led him to be badly standing in defense against the rapid exits of his rival – in just five minutes he had two warnings-.
The clearest ones appeared every time Colombia attacked and stepped on the area with many people, when Miguel Borja occupied his central role in the attack and, as almost always, Cuadrado appeared in the background to look for his teammates with greater offensive weight.
Barros Schelotto’s team had an unbeatable chance when Carlos Gonzalez I know he escaped and with a left foot hit the left stick of a defeated David Ospina. The scoreless result at the end of the first half reflected a balanced match.
Reinaldo Rueda’s disagreement at the Colombian bank was reflected in the three changes incorporated at halftime, which in reality did not show too many variations in relation to football. Diego Valoyes, a player from Talleres de Córdoba, made his debut with the coffee team, but seemed to be struggling with control of the ball.
In all the complement, Colombia hardly bothered with a free kick from Cuadrado, while Paraguay – especially after the expulsion of Andrés Cubas – clung to a point that did not serve them.
Colombia will continue its path in the Qualifiers against Peru of Ricardo Gareca, as a local, and Paraguay will play its last chances at home against Uruguay in January next year.
The twin’s lament
“We are squeezed by the need for points, but I fully trust these players,” said Barros Schelotto. at the press conference.
“Paraguay has very good players. It will be my job to ensure that the level they have in their clubs is in the national team”, continued the Twin, who signed before this double date and barely rescued this unit after a debut with a defeat against Chile in Asunción de Paraguay.
“We have four games left and while there are chances Paraguay has to fight. The match lost to Chile on the previous date at home hurts us, “he concluded.
Paraguay has 13 points and is four of Peru, the last classified to the playoffs but with Bolivia (15), Uruguay (16) and Chile (16) in the middle.
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