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Good start for Colombia

July 6 2004 - Colombia beat Venezuela 1-nil in the curtain-raiser of the 41st edition of the Copa América, held in Peru. The winner was scored by striker Tressor Moreno from a spot-kick on 21 minutes.

Colombia lead Group A, on 3 points. The first round in Group A will also see Peru take on Bolivia, at 10:15 pm, Brasilia time. Colombias next fixture will take place on the 9th, in Lima, against Bolivia. On the same day, Venezuela meet hosts Peru.

Coach Reinaldo Ruedas side had the better of the match early on, moving the ball quickly, always using triangulations and the speed of strikers Tressor Moreno and David Ferreira. So much so that within 5 minutes of play, they threatened goalkeeper Angelucci with a strike and on 10 minutes, another shot flew over the crossbar.

Keeping possession on the Venezuelan half of the field, the Colombians moved towards Angeluccis goal. The keeper brought Tressor Moreno down for a penalty after an individual effort. Despite a fine strike from the spot, Brazilian referee Márcio Rezende de Freitas ordered the penalty to be retaken due to encroachment. At his second attempt, Moreno struck on the opposite side to put Colombia ahead 1-nil.

After the opener, the Colombians closed their ranks, but a lackluster Venezuela was unable to threaten Henao¿s goal. Colombia settled for the narrow victory and moved the ball around with the help of midfielder Jorge Patiños fine performance. Just before the interval, Colombia came close to scoring again, when midfielder David Ferreira squandered a chance with only keeper Angelucci to beat.

Determined to claw their way back, the Venezuelans took the initiative in the second half. They turned the screw and on 50 minutes, after two corner-kicks, manager Richard Páez¿s men scored a goal, disallowed by Márcio Rezende de Freitas because striker Ruberth Morán was offside.

Venezuela continued moving forward, trying their luck from distance, with Paez, on 56 minutes, and Arango, on 63 minutes, who forced the Once Caldas keeper Henao to show his skills.

Colombia managed to make the match a more even affair after coach Rueda¿s substituted a tired Tressor Moreno for striker John Viáfara, also a player from the current Copa Libertadores champions.

After the hour, the match became a bit more confused in midfield. Only on 84 minutes, after a free-kick from the left wing, Venezuelan midfielder Arango outstretched Henao, who managed to avoid the leveler. In the follow-up, Venezuela almost scored with a header.

Colombia hit back immediately, and after a fine play near the sidelines, the ball crossed the middle of the box from a back-pass, but Patiño misfired, squandering a chance to double the lead. Soon after, David Ferreiras effort also caused trouble for Angelucci.

There was little action from then on until the last second of the match, when Venezuela almost drew level in the opening match of the Copa América Peru 2004.

Source : Global.Terra.comm / Rodolfo Rodriquez 

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