29 Jun 2014

Rodriguez inspires Colombia past Uruguay

10:44 am on 29 June 2014

Colombia have beaten Uruguay 2-0 at the football World Cup to book a quarter-final against Brazil.

Striker James Rodriguez scored both goals in Rio, one in each half, to take the lead in the World Cup golden boot with five goals from four games.

Rodriguez opened his account on the 28th minute mark with a contender for goal of the tournament, the 22-year-old turning neatly outside the area after taking the ball on his chest with his back to goal, then smashing home the volley.

Rodriguez scored again five minutes after half-time, finishing off a cross from a headed pass inside the six-yard box.

Uruguay were missing their talismanic striker Luis Suarez, who's been thrown out of the World Cup and banned from the game for four months for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini.

Suarez's ban is the longest ever imposed at a World Cup.

Colombia will now play hosts Brazil in the last eight in Fortaleza on July 5th, after the hosts earlier beat Chile 3-2 in a penalty shootout in Belo Horizonte, following a 1-all draw and scoreless extra-time period.