Matchday 18 of the South American qualifiers will determine which national team clinchesa spot in the inter-continental playoffs. Peru, Chile, and Colombia are the three teams who arrived at this exciting round with chances of clinching fifth place of the Conmebol standings.
Ricardo Gareca‘s men headed into this round with advantage as they are in control of theirdestiny and put themselves in front vs Paraguay early in the game. Meanwhile, Chile and Colombia were struggling to break the deadlock in their respective games.
Reinaldo Rueda‘s side, however, found the opener against Venezuela shortly before half-time through the penalty spot. James Rodriguez had initially missed his shot but the VAR reviewdetermined that Wuilker Fariñezstepped forward and the veteran playmaker found the net in the retake.
Watch: James Rodriguez scoressecond penalty shotto giveColombia the lead
This is a must-win for Colombia to have any hope of sealing a place in the playoffs. Peru are momentarilyholding on to fifth place but this James goal could prove useful if La Blanquirrojasuddenly lose the lead.
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Martin O'Donnell is a bilingual sports writer fluent in English and Spanish, currently serving as the Editor of Bolavip. He began his journey with the website in February 2021, making a name for himself through comprehensive coverage of soccer, NFL, and NBA, with a specialty in real-time reporting of major events such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League finals, and the Super Bowl. In June 2024, Martin took on the role of Subeditor, where he excelled in overseeing the publication of stories, assisting staff writers, and ensuring content quality. His prior experience includes managing social media for CONMEBOL Libertadores and Sudamericana in English and Spanish, as well as reporting on Brazilian football for Sambafoot. Known for his meticulous attention to detail and ability to capture breaking news, Martin has consistently been a valuable asset to the Bolavip team, especially during crucial sports seasons involving trades, playoffs, and finals. Now, as the Editor, Martin brings his extensive experience and keen editorial sense to lead Bolavip’s team, driving the website's growth and ensuring it remains a top source for sports news and analysis.
