Colombia Defeats Greece, 3-0, in World Cup Opener in Brazil
Above: the Estadio Mineirao in Brazil
By the Caribbean Journal staff
Colombia defeated Greece, 2-0, on Saturday in its opening match at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Colombia quickly got on the board when Pablo Armero scored in the fifth minute, and added an insurance goal in the 58th minute when Teofilo Gutierrez put one through.
Colombia iced the game with a goal by James Rodriguez in the third minute of extra time.
It was the most goals the team had scored in a World Cup match since 1962.
It was a relatively even match that saw both Colombia and Greece with six shots on goal, although Greece actually dominated possession, holding onto the ball for 54 percent of the game.
The match was held at the Estadio Mineirao in Brazil’s Belo Horizonte.
While no traditional Caribbean countries qualified for the World Cup, Colombia is one of four teams in the Caribbean Basin to qualify: Mexico, Costa Rica and Honduras.
Colombia and Greece are in Group C, along with Cote d’Ivoire and Japan.
American Mark Geiger was the referee.
