Colombia use fervent following to inflict comfortable defeat on Greece

The World Cup will miss Radamel Falcao but Colombia have started just fine without him. Confident, composed and always in control against an ineffective Greece side, José Pékerman’s insistence that they will go on without their talismanic striker was vindicated convincingly in Belo Horizonte. Dark horses indeed.

Colombia had lost three of their four opening fixtures at the World Cup finals but an opening victory in Group C was not in doubt from the moment the former West Ham defender Pablo Armero scuffed them into a fifth-minute lead. Teófilo Gutiérrez

 poked home a second and James Rodríguez, the gifted playmaker on who so much depends in the absence of his Monaco team-mate, produced a polished finish in added time to record a handsome win. Greece were shell-shocked and devoid of answers once their finely tuned defensive game-plan was scuppered from Colombia’s first meaningful attack.

The wonderful Estádio Mineirão was a bowl of yellow. It was all Colombia, save for two small pockets of Greece supporters, and the noise that greeted the “home” team was extraordinary. That was just for the warm-up. When the Colombian national anthem ended a verse too soon the crowd took it upon itself to finish the song with patriotic fervour, then fell silent for their opponents’ anthem. It was the only respite Greece would get on and off the field.

In the absence of Falcao, and faced with an obstinate defence, Pékerman opted to try to work his way through the Greek backline rather than overpower them. That meant a slight tactical switch to 4-2-3-1 with Victor Ibarbo preferred to Sevilla’s Carlos Bacca on the left. Ibarbo, the Cagliari forward, forced his way into Pékerman’s plans only after Colombia qualified for their first World Cup in 16 years but, in the words of his coach, “has added something important to our game”. He proved a tireless outlet for Colombia and with a touch more composure in the area could have guided the team to a comfortable lead before the interval.

The reservations over how Colombia could hurt Greece without Falcao were eased early. They may well return another day and against more formidable opposition, but with the first flowing attacking move of the game Colombia had a vital lead and changed the dynamics of the contest.

Fiorentina’s Juan Guillermo Cuadrado was instrumental in their dominant start and in the breakthrough. Toying with José Holebas on the right, Cuadrado threaded the ball across the area, Rodríguez dummied beautifully and there was the left-back, Pablo Armero, to scuff a shot into the bottom corner via a deflection off Kostas Manolas. The ball took an eternity to trickle over the line to leave Pablo Armero in a state of shock and Colombia in ecstasy. The neutral no doubt felt the same as Greece were now obliged to abandon their cautious gameplan and take the game to Colombia.

Fernando Santos had bridled at suggestions before the game that Greece’s tactics have not developed since winning the European Championship in 2004, with a water-tight defence and set-piece prowess. He was on thin ground but his team delivered an encouraging response, albeit while still heavily reliant on a corner or free-kick to haul themselves back on level terms.

Georgios Samaras and Dimitrios Salpingidis pushed closer to the lone forward, Theofanis Gekas, after the goal and Greece came close when Vasilis Torosidis headed a Holebas free-kick wide in a crowded penalty area.

Their best opportunity arrived on the stroke of half-time when Carlos Sánchez executed a superb tackle on Gekas only for the ball to break to Panagiotis Kone 25 yards out. Kone caught it cleanly but David Ospina, the previously unemployed Colombia goalkeeper, turned the ball away from the top corner.

Going on the back foot did not trouble Colombia unduly. So much attention had been placed on their attack in the build-up that their impressive defensive record in qualifying second to Argentina was overlooked. They conceded 13 goals in 16 matches in the group phase, the fewest in the South American qualifying section, and were always in control against a team lacking the necessary guile or precision in the final third. They were led at the back by Mario Yepes, making his 99th international appearance at the age of 38 and strolling along with ease.

With the onus on Greece to attack Colombia had more space than expected to increase their lead. Ibarbo and Gutiérrez exchanged passes on the edge of the area but the former failed to shoot first time and allowed Manolas to intervene. Ibarbo then charged down the left but again over-ran the ball in the Greece area and Manolas intercepted once more.

It was not until the 58th minute that Colombia could relax and indulge in “Olés” when, with a touch of irony, Gutiérrez punished Greece at a set piece. They should have dealt with Rodríguez’s in-swinging corner to the near post but Abel Aguilar got there first and flicked the ball between the goalkeeper, Orestis Karnezis, and a defender. The unmarked Gutiérrez could not miss an open goal from two yards out and the Mineirão erupted.

Colombia should have been quietened soon after when the Greece substitute Giannis Fetfatzidis turned a deep cross back from the byline but, with the keeper stranded, Gekas steered his diving header against the bar. Greece stared in disbelief. Colombia began to party. Both got what they deserved.