Brazil scored early in the game after a Neymar corner kick was not cleared by the Colombian defence and Brazilian captain Thiago Silva put the ball into the net.
Brazil continued to attack the Colombian goal and came close to scoring a second one through Hulk, but Colombian number one David Ospina punched it away into Oscar’s path, forcing him into making another save.
The game was played with a high tempo with end-to-end and goal-to-goal action as both teams tested each other’s attacking prowess.
Colombia came close to equalising after a well-orchestrated move by James Rodríguez set up an opportunity but the resulting shot was cleared by Marcelo Vieira. Ospina was the busier of the two keepers as Brazil continued shooting on goal but he did well to keep the scoreline at 1-0.
As the half neared the 45-minute mark, Colombia got the best chance to equalise after Fernandinho fouled Cuadrado near the penalty box. Rodríguez, who so far has been the tournament’s top scorer, stepped up to curl the ball into the net but it bounced off the Brazilian wall.
Play resumed in the second half with a battle of the midfield as the teams fought for ball possession. Colombia thought they had an equaliser through their 39-year-old captain Mario Yepes but it was ruled offside.
Silva received a yellow card after he impeded Ospina as he was taking a goal kick. The yellow card was Silva’s second yellow card of the tournament which means that he will miss Brazil’s semi-final.
Play continued and Brazil would get their second goal through a well-struck powerful freekick by David Luiz, who put Brazil in solid contention for a place in the semis.
It seemed the Brazilian team was riding on the second goal wave as there was a lapse in defence as Júlio César conceded a penalty kick after a foul on Carlos Bacca.
Rodríguez stepped up to convert the penalty kick and take his goal tally to six goals in the tournament thus far, putting him in strong contention for the Golden Boot award.
With the scoreline standing at 2-1, the final ten minutes of the game were intense.
Neymar was stretchered off as the game approached the 90-minute mark. Five minutes were added as additional time but it was not enough for Colombia to get an equaliser.
Image: eurosport.com
