Confident Colombia Whip Greece In Group C Opener

     World Cup action in Group C started today 14/06/2014 with Colombia looking to continue the impressive showing of the South American teams in an encounter against a very defensive Greek side. It was the Colombians’ first World Cup game since 1998 and even without the services of their star player Falcao, were the firm favorites to prevail against a team with a not too impressive World Cup history. It was the Colombians who started the brighter of the two teams though after a few brilliant runs into the Greek penalty area which the Europeans had to desperately clear away. After five minutes though, the South Americans got a deserved lead. Armero received a cross and his shot took a deflection leaving the Greek goalkeeper with no chance. It was now 1-0 to Colombia. They had waited sixteen long years for that moment. The last goal they scored at a World Cup was in a 1-0 win over Tunisia back in France ’98.  The majority of the stands at the Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horzonte was  a sea of yellow in support of the Colombians, but the Greeks were not overwhelmed. In the 28^th minute they won a free kick but the resulting header from Torosidis went just wide. Still the Colombians were not to be outdone.  A corner in the 37^th minute produced a shot which just missed the mark. The Greeks had a good chance to level the scores in the 45^th but Kone’s effort was brilliantly saved by Ospina in the Colombian goal. At the half it was the South Americans who had the edge. The score 1-0 in their favour.

     At the resumption the Greeks tried to make an enterprising start to the half as Samaras made a darting but futile run in the Colombian penalty area. The Colombians responded with an effort from James, but Kanezis in the Greek goal was equal to the task. In the 52^nd minute the Colombians were awarded a free kick after a Greek foul but the effort was wasted. Salpingidis was then booked after a clumsy challenge. The South Americans would again squander the free kick opportunity. In the 58^th minute though, they were awarded a corner and Teo doubled the lead. The Greeks were now in a spot of bother. It was an all too familiar feeling. They did get a good chance minutes later though as Gekas’ header from close range cannoned off the Colombian crossbar. Gekas was soon replaced by Mitroglou in an effort to salvage something from the game for Greece. The Colombians then brought on Mejia to replace Aguilar in the 69^th.In the 74^th Arias replaced one of the goalscorers Armero. Teo was also replaced in the 76^th with Jackson as the Colombians looked to tighten things up in the back with victory seemingly in sight. The Greeks then replaced Kone with Karagounis in the 78^th in a last throw of the dice for the Greek coach Fernando Santos.

      In the 85^th Samaras saw a good effort go just wide for Greece. It pretty much summed up the Greeks’ afternoon and an all too familiar World Cup story for them. In added on time James Rodriguez made it 3-0 for Colombia to heap more misery on the hapless Europeans. At the final whistle it was Colombia which ran away deserved winners from this encounter. For the Greeks, it was a case of another World Cup game, another World Cup defeat.