Liverpool star Luis Diaz showed a stunning dribble that stunned quite a number of his team’s players as Colombia defeated Paraguay 2-1 and extended their unbeaten record to 24 matches.
Diaz opened the game with a terrific play down the end line, bringing in an early Colombian opportunity. In the seventh minute, the left winger went away from his defender and towards the corner flag, generating enough space between two Paraguayan players to shoot a cross to the back post, but Daniel Munoz’s header lacked force and trickled out harmlessly for a goal kick.
The 2022 Liverpool signing’s auspicious start waned after he completed only three of seven first-half passes and one successful dribble. Rodriguez, who left Everton in 2021 after one disappointing season, stole the show for Los Cafeteros, with his well-placed crosses enabling Colombia take a 2-0 lead into the locker room.
Rodríguez used a clever feint beyond the 18-yard box to set up Munoz for a header at the back post. Colombia extended their lead just 10 minutes later, when current Premier League star Jefferson Lerma glancingly headed in Rodriguez’s free kick inside the far post.
Just as the second half got underway, Diaz got his chance to open his Copa America goal account. Rodriguez’s next set-piece attempt was cleared as far as Diaz, who was waiting in the penalty area, but the Liverpool winger missed the Paraguay goal with his volley attempt by a few feet.
When Paraguay cut the lead in half in the 69th minute, the mostly Colombian crowd in Houston became noticeably tense. The resultant free-flowing play gave Diaz two excellent chances to score. With 25 minutes remaining, Diaz drove at the Paraguayan defenders in transition, setting up Rodriguez for an accurate layoff on an overlapping run. Just past the six-yard line, the offensive midfielder was unmarked, but he decided to square the ball and miss the chance.
A minute later, Diaz tried to tie the score himself after a brilliant shot fake gave him a comparable distance shot on goal. Unfortunately, the young winger lost his balance and struck the side netting with force.
With 10 completed passes in the second half—including a couple of line-breaking plays that he had trouble finding in the first forty-five minutes—and one more successful dribble, Diaz had a far bigger impact overall.
Colombia started their Copa America journey with three points despite only 0.63 projected goals on the night, thanks to a late scare from La Albirroja. against Friday at 6 p.m. ET, Diaz and Colombia will take against Costa Rica on FS1.
