LONDON (Nov. 14, 2014) – U.S. Men’s National Team forward Jozy Altidore scored an early goal, but No. 3 FIFA-ranked Colombia scored two unanswered goals in the second half en route to a 2-1 victory in front of 24,235 spectators, a record attendance for an international match at Craven Cottage, the home of Fulham. Carlos Bacca scored the game-tying goal in the 60th minute and Teofilo Gutierrez the game-winner in the 87th minute.
Altidore’s 10th-minute tally from the penalty spot was the 25th of his international career and team-leading fourth of 2014.
The USA is now 16-35-9 all-time against top-10 FIFA-ranked opponents and 3-10-4 all-time against Colombia.
The U.S. MNT wraps up its 2014 schedule against the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Kickoff is at 2:45 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and Univision.
Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Jozy Altidore (penalty), 10th minute: The USA drew a penalty kick when Jermaine Jones headed the ball into the right side of the box toward Rubio Rubin. Rubin was fighting off Pablo Armero for the 50-50, when Armero’s left arm made contact with the ball. That led to Altidore’s penalty kick and the USA striker hesitated on his approach against Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas, who dove to his left as Altidore’s shot was driven just behind him toward the middle of the frame. The tally was the U.S. MNT’s first in a London-based game; the team had been outscored 13-0 in three previous London matches.
COL – Carlos Bacca (James Rodriguez), 60th minute: Rodriguez played a through ball in the direction of Teofilo Gutierrez, who was in an offside position. Gutierrez refrained from touching the ball, and referee Szymon Marciniak decided that he did not impact the play and let play continue while the USA back line screamed for a whistle. Meanwhile, Bacca made a dash to the ball, took a touch to his right, and from the corner of the six-yard box slotted the ball into the net for the equalizer.
COL – Teofilo Gutierrez (Edwin Cardona), 87th minute: From the right side of the box, Cardona lofted the ball to the left side over second-half sub Julian Green and connected with Gutierrez, who headed the ball top shelf in the center of the goal past diving USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
Key Saves and Defensive Stops:
USA – Brad Guzan, 27th minute: Following a corner kick from the left side, Colombia’s Jeison Murillo lofted his header toward the upper left corner of the frame. Guzan instinctively reached up to bat the ball over the crossbar.
USA – Jermaine Jones, 41st minute: James Rodriguez built up the attack with a creative back heel toward Carlos Bacca and the Colombia forward shot from the right side. Jones tracked back in time to deflect the ball out of bounds to keep Colombia off the score sheet.
COL – Camilo Vargas, 59th minute: Colombia’s goalkeeper was challenged nearly 15 minutes into the second half when Jermaine Jones headed the ball off of a corner kick. Jones tried for the inside right of the frame, but Vargas cut down the angle to make the save.
USA – Brad Guzan, 64th, 65th and 68th minutes: Colombia dictated the play for much of the second half and created three great scoring chances in a four-minute span. Carlos Sanchez’s right-footed shot deflected off of DeAndre Yedlin, and Guzan dove to his left for the save. Guzan then stopped a rolling shot from Teofilo Gutierrez and also turned away a Pablo Armero attempt from outside the box.
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