2 Goals By Diaz Gives Colombia 3rd Place At Copa America - Eastern Mirror
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2 goals by Diaz gives Colombia 3rd place at Copa America

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By PTI Updated: Jul 10, 2021 11:04 pm
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Colombia’s Luis Diaz, center, scores his side’s second goal against Peru during the Copa America third place soccer match at the National stadium in Brasilia, Brazil, Friday, July 9, 2021. (PTI)

Brasilia (Brazil), July 10 (AP/PTI): Colombia beat Peru 3-2 in the third-place match at Copa America after striker Luis D az scored a pair of goals, one of them assisted by goalkeeper Camilo Vargas.

The final of the tournament between defending champion Brazil and Argentina will be played Saturday night at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

Peru opened the scoring at the Man Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia with Yoshimar Yot n in the 28th minute, with an assist from Christian Cueva that allowed him to beat Colombia’s Vargas with a soft lob.

Colombia equalized in the 49th minute after a free kick taken by Juan Guillermo Cuadrado went through the middle of the Peruvian wall and past goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.

Colombia took the lead for the first time in the 66th minute after Vargas kicked the ball above opposite defenders to find Diaz face to face with Peru’s Gallese. The striker calmly hit it with his right foot to make it 2-1.

Italian-Peruvian striker Gianluca Lapadula leveled once again in the 82nd minute with a header after a corner.

D az scored again in added time with a shot from outside the box. The ball deflected on a Peru defender and beat Gallese.

The two goals on Friday illustrated Diaz’s change in his career fortunes. Only years ago he was playing for a team of Indigenous peoples in his native Colombia. The Porto striker is being considered as one of the best players of the current edition of Copa America, with four goals as many as Lionel Messi ahead of Saturday’s final against Brazil.

I have always dreamed about these wins, doing good things with the national team,” D az said after receiving his bronze medal.

But I never imagined to get all that I am living.

The striker was born in the city of Barrancas, close to the border with Venezuela. He has roots in the Way ethnic group, although he doesn’t speak the language.

At the age of 18 in 2015, he played for Colombia in the Copa America of Indigenous Peoples. The team lost the final to Chile, but D az saw doors open for him after former footballer Carlos Valderrama recommended him to Junior Barranquilla.

D az helped the Junior team win the national title in 2018 and reach the Copa Sudamerican final. One year later he signed for Porto, where Colombians Falcao Garcia and James Rodr guez also played.

His goals on Friday were impressive the first proved how much control he has with the ball until the finish, and the second showed the power in his left leg.

We won because of Lucho,” Cuadrado said, in a reference to Diaz’ nickname.

He has an excellent level and he will achieve great things.

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By PTI Updated: Jul 10, 2021 11:04:44 pm
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