Colombia thrashed Chile 4-0 on Wednesday and qualified with a perfect score (12 units in four games) to the semifinals of the Copa América Femenina that is played at home.
At the Centennial Stadium in Armenia (center-west), the coffee growers dispelled doubts about their classification very early on against a team that threatened their favoritism in the area.
Just in minute 3 of the last game of the group stage, the speedy 17-year-old winger Linda Caicedo assisted the veteran Catalina Usme(32), who defined with a strong cross shot.
In minute 11, Diana Ospina, alone in the area, shot powerfully against Chile’s goal. Goalkeeper Christiane Endler had a poor reaction, she left a rebound, took one of her defenders ahead and Colombian center back Daniela Arias took advantage of the chaos to score the second.
In minute 37 the left back Manuel Vanegas escaped from the defense and scored the third. The poker came with a header from Liana Salazar.
Chile not only fell humiliated by the locals, but with 6 points it was displaced from the second box by Paraguay, which deprived it of playing the semifinals next week.
In a simultaneous duel, Paraguayan they defeated Ecuador 2-1 (fourth with 3) and reached 9 units. Bolivia was in the queue without points.
On Thursday Colombia will meet its rival in the semifinals between Argentina or Venezuela.
The Copa América delivers three direct places to the 2023 World Cup and for a playoff to the fourth and fifth classified. The two finalists will also qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games.
Chile will not go home yet. By being in third position, they will face the loser between Argentines and Venezuelans in the dispute for one of the playoff spots.
