Brazil were looking to impress on home soil while Colombia wanted to make their mark. Underdogs? They don't think so.
The winner of this quarter-final encounter would face Germany in the semi-finals. Colombia have failed to score in 9 out of 12 matches against Brazil.
It ended 2-1 with goals from Thiago Silva and David Luis for Brazil and a penalty for James Rodriguez for Colombia. Moreover, superstar Neymar was carried off the pitch and down the tunnel on a stretcher.
The pace of the match was set at the very beginning. Both teams giving it their all. In 10 minutes they were already sweating like pigs. It was an exciting match and the early goal made it thrilling.
The ball was going back and forth. Brazil would make an attempt on goal, they fail and Colombia would go on the counter to also try their luck. The ball was literally going left and right.
Every chance Colombia got to equalise, Brazil had made sure their defense was solid. The ball hardly reached goalkeeper Julio Cesar.
An early goal from a corner kick by Neymar found the inner thigh of captain Thiago Silva who was left unmarked in the far post and managed to give Brazil the lead in the 7th minute. That goal gave Brazil the perfect start. Plus, their 9th goal in this World Cup.
At half time it looked as though the goal might stand for the rest of the match. Similarly to the France-Germany match. Brazil were protecting their goal while Colombia didn't want another goal in their net.
Goalkeeper Ospina was called to make a double save. First a left footed shot by Hulk and another by Oscar.
For a moment tempers flared and fight could have ensued after James Rodriguez was pushed to the ground and sandwiched between two Brazilian footballers.
Colombia were becoming malicious in their tackles. The Brazilians were dropping like flies around the referee.
The second half was as exciting as the first. This time, a beautiful free kick by David Luiz landed in the net and the Brazilian fans went mental. Brazil was 2-0 up.
The cracks were beginning to show in the Colombian team. Rodriguez was clearly frustrated by his teams lack of goals let alone chances. So instead of pulling together, they were falling apart.
More than 10 minutes before the end, Julio Cesar fouled a player in the box and received a yellow card and also handed Colombia a penalty kick. Rodriguez took the penalty kick, reduced the deficit to 2-1 and took his tally to 6 goals in the tournament. Another goal would have taken us to extra time.
Colombia were handed 5 minutes extra time to find the equaliser while Brazil were given that time to either defend their score or continue slotting in the goals.
The end was exciting. Colombia was desperate for that equaliser while Brazil wanted it to be over. That's how it ended, Brazil 2-1 Colombia.
Top scorer Rodriguez, one of the finest players of the tournament could not be consoled as Colombia exited the World Cup in the quarter-finals.
