Colombia midfielder James Rodriguez. (Photo : Getty Images)
A high-profile match-up between two of CONMEBOL's toughest teams, Peru and Colombia, is scheduled at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on Friday, June 17 as the quarterfinals of the 2016 Copa América Centenario moves forward.
Peru, presently ranked 48th in the world by FIFA, lived up to the hype of being the tournament's dark horse as they stunned a bewildered Brazil side in the final game of Group B competitions, 1-0, at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on Sunday, Goal reported.
The game looked headed to extra time as the two teams had been scoreless in the first 75 minutes of the contest until La Blanquirroja striker Raul Ruidiaz broke the deadlock from an assist by club Universitario teammate Andy Polo.
The goal was controversial, though, as some are saying that it was a handball. Still, the play was a non-call and Peru advanced ahead of the five-time World Cup champions to the quarters.
World no. 7 Brazil, who was one of the favorites to bring home the Copa this summer, could not respond to the debacle with 15 minutes left in the game as they failed to qualify in the knockout stage of the tournament for the first time since 1987.
Meanwhile, Colombia rested most of its starting unit in a loss to CONCACAF giants Costa Rica, 2-3, in the third round of Group B matches at the NRG Stadium in Houston last Saturday, via ESPN.
Head coach José Pékerman opted to bring James Rodriguez, Juan Cuadrado, and Edwin Cardona off the bench while completely resting Carlos Bacca, Jeison Murillo, and goalkeeper David Ospina in the no-bearing encounter as the team has already assured itself of a place in the quarters.
However, by placing second in Group A, they will get to meet the leaders of Group B, which turned out to be Peru, after the latter shocked Brazil.
Pékerman is expected to revert back to his first-choice lineup in this match against Los Incas as Los Cafeteros look to advance in the semifinals of this year's historic Copa Centenario event.
The predicted result is a 2-0 victory for Colombia.
Peru starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Gallese; Corzo, Ramos, Rodriguez, Trauco; Vilchez, Balbin; Polo, Cueva, Flores; Guerrero
Colombia starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Ospina; Arias, Zapata, Murillo, Diaz; Perez, Torres; Cuadrado, Rodriguez, Cardona; Bacca
