Luis Diaz brought Colombia’s goal famine to an end as Los Cafeteros kept their slender World Cup hopes alive.
Colombia had gone seven qualifiers and 685 minutes without finding the back of the net - their longest run without scoring in South American qualifying ever - to destroy their hopes of automatic qualification for this year’s finals in Qatar.
Not since Diaz had rounded off a 3-1 win over Chile on September 10 had manager Reinaldo Rueda seen his side notch, with a run of three defeats and four goalless draws seeing them fall from third in the CONMEBOL qualifying table to seventh. But a 3-0 home win over Bolivia in Barranquilla on Thursday night pushed them back into sixth, one point behind Peru in the race for a playoff spot.
And it was the Liverpool new boy who inspired them on their way to victory. Having shone at Anfield since his January switch from Porto, he took the bull by the horns and ended his side’s dismal run after 39 minutes, picking up the ball on the left flank, driving into the penalty area and curling a fine drive into the far corner.
Second-half substitute Miguel Borja doubled the hosts lead in the 72nd minute, with Diaz turning provider. This time the Kop forward used his speed to hit the byline, and his cross was nodded home by Borja, for his ninth international goal.
Mateus Uribe rounded off the scoring in the 90th minute, heading home from close range also. By that point, Diaz, who his Rueda had insisted pre-match shouldn’t be cast in the role of ‘Colombia’s saviour’ had departed to a standing ovation, ahead of next week’s must-win finale in Venezuela.
Still, victory may not be enough. Should Peru beat Paraguay - already eliminated - in Lima, then Ricardo Gareca’s side will make it to back-to-back finals, having ended a 36-year absence at Russia 2018.
“We are aware that we still depend on other results and that makes us work with intensity for the next game,” said Rueda. “There is one game left against a rival at a good time and we are sure to play an important game. We hope to move forward and give us the chance to qualify.”
Jurgen Klopp recently claimed Diaz was “not far off” performing “miracles” since his arrival at Anfield. If the 25-year-old can fire his country past Venezuela and gets the little help required to take tem into a playoff for Qatar, then it will certainly count as one to the people of Colombia.
