MARGAO: Colombia, led by captain Linda Caicedo’s exemplary performance, sealed a quarterfinal spot in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup with a 2-1 win over Mexico at the PJN Stadium, Fatorda, on Tuesday.
Caicedo scored her third goal in as many matches in the campaign, was quite clearly the livewire of the attack and lent an air of calm and composure after Mexico, enjoying the crowd’s support, pressed hard after pulling a goal back.
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Not surprisingly, she picked up the player of the match award and now shapes as a player to watch in the knockout stage after Colomba topped Group C with Spain joining them in the quarterfinals at second spot after beating China 1-0 in Navi Mumbai.
Juana Ortegon broke the dealock in the 41st minute after either team failed to prise open the rival defence.
The ball fell kindly for Ortegon who dispatched the ball high into the Mexican net past a helpless Renatta Cota.
Colombia made it 2-0 in the 74th minute when Caicedo chipped over Cota, exploiting hesitancy in the Mexican defence.
With 81 minutes having elapsed, Mexico scored but it was, ironically, Caicedo’s own goal via a thick deflection from Alice Soto’s attempted pile driver.
Mexico, who dominated possession throughout, pressed for the equalizer, but the Colombian line held firm.
The Central Americans’ ascendancy with the ball stemmed from a ploy from experience and coach Carlos Paniagua revealed that a recent friendly against Mexico taught valuable lessons.
Unlike that encounter where Colombia attempted to force play and were hit badly, they lay back to wait and watch, hitting back especially in the second half with Caicedo playing her part adeptly.
