Brazil’s march towards an unprecedented sixth World Cup continued after a pulsating encounter with Colombia in Fortaleza, amid late drama and a potential injury to star striker Neymar.
The hosts started at a frenetic pace and were rewarded for their early efforts with a goal from captain Thiago Silva, who managed to knee the ball home from a couple of yards following Neymar’s corner.
Opposing goalkeeper David Ospina kept the score as it was with smart stops from Hulk and Oscar, and the home crowd were sent into dreamland after 68 minutes when David Luiz stepped up and hammered an audacious free kick into the top right hand corner from fully 30 yards.
Brazil’s dominance waned somewhat as the visitors grew into the game, and tournament top scorer James Rodriguez made them pay by converting a penalty after a foul by Julio Cesar on Carlos Bacca.
A late Colombian barrage did not yield any reward, as Brazil set up an intriguing Semi Final with Germany in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday evening.
In terms of counting the cost of their win, the Brazilians will have to make do without Silva through suspension and the possibility of not being able to select Neymar, after the attacker was stretchered off as the result of a knee in the back from Juan Zuniga.
