NewsInternationals: Luis Diaz stars in Colombia victory with goal and assist
Luis Diaz played a starring role for Colombia overnight as he scored and recorded an assist for his nation.
Colombia secured a 3-0 victory over Bolivia in Connecticut in their final warm-up fixture ahead of this summer’s Copa America tournament, which is being held in the USA.
Diaz played a crucial role in Jhon Arias’ fifth-minute opener, collecting a loose pass before his driving run resulted in the ball falling to the forward inside the area.
The Liverpool No.7 wasn’t to be denied an assist for Colombia’s second of the game in minute 25, though, with his low delivery from the left flank finding teammate John Cordoba, who spun and shot into the net to add to the scoreline.
Diaz then provided his own strike three minutes ahead of the half-time interval - the 100th goal of his career for both club and country - scoring Colombia’s third and final effort of the contest.
He again danced into the area through the defence, and this time dragged the ball back himself before rifling a shot low into the far corner of goal.
It was to be the last meaningful action of the evening from either side in the final third, though both teams were later reduced to 10 men during the second period.
Colombia will begin their involvement in the Copa America on June 24, when they take on Paraguay in their Group D opener.
They will also face Costa Rica and Alisson Becker’s Brazil in the opening stage.
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