On Tuesday, Colombia triumphed with a 3-0 victory over Australia in an international friendly match at Citi Field. The Colombian team opened the scoring with a penalty taken by James Rodríguez at the 30-minute mark, sending the ball into the net. Just before halftime, Luis Díaz doubled the lead with a well-executed goal at the 43rd minute. Colombia’s offense did not stop there; they struck again shortly after the break, with Jefferson Lerma netting their third goal just 2 minutes into the second half.
Jefferson Lerma showcased an outstanding performance, contributing significantly with one goal to his name. Luis Díaz also impressed, finding the back of the net once during the match.
Under the management of Néstor Lorenzo, Colombia adopted a 4-5-1 tactical formation. The team lined up with Camilo Vargas in goal; a defensive unit comprising Santiago Arias, Dávinson Sánchez, Jhon Lucumí, and Johan Mojica; Richard Rios, Juan Camilo Portilla, Yáser Asprilla, James Rodríguez, and Luis Díaz in midfield; while Luis Suárez led the attack.
In contrast, Australia, managed by Anthony Popovic, opted for a 5-4-1 setup, featuring Paul Izzo as their goalkeeper and a backline of Lewis Miller, Kai Trewin, Milos Degenek, Cameron Burgess, and Kye Rowles. Their midfield included Connor Metcalfe, Jackson Irvine, Aiden O’Neill, and Riley McGree, with Mohamed Touré as the sole forward.
Mary Penso officiated the match, ensuring smooth gameplay throughout. Following this match, Colombia will have a rest period in the competition, while Australia will enjoy a break without a forthcoming match.
Substitutions for Colombia:
68’ 2H – Richard Rios was replaced by Gustavo Puerta
69’ 2H – Luis Suárez made way for Rafael Santos Borré
80’ 2H – Juan Camilo Portilla and Yáser Asprilla were substituted for Jefferson Lerma and Jorge Carrascal respectively.
Yellow Cards for Colombia:
40’ 2H – Jefferson Lerma (Unsporting behavior)
49’ 2H – Gustavo Puerta (Unsporting behavior)
Substitutions for Australia:
59’ 2H – Jackson Irvine was taken off for Maximilien Balard and Kye Rowles for Callum Elder
77’ 2H – Connor Metcalfe exited for Martin Boyle, Aiden O’Neill for Paul Okon-Engstler, and Riley McGree for Nestory Irankunda.
Yellow Cards for Australia:
20’ 1H – Aiden O’Neill (Unsporting behavior)
5’ 2H – Kye Rowles (Unsporting behavior)
48’ 2H – Tony Popovic (Dissent towards the referee)