Group C was perfectly poised going into the final match-day with all four sides sitting on 3 points. Colombia and Peru both had it all to play for, knowing defeat could condemn them to elimination.
Colombia started on the front foot, with Peru’s Pedro Gallese making a good save as Chelsea target Radamel Falcao turned in the box and got a shot away.
Falcao was involved in another Colombia chance moments later. Teófilo Gutiérrez won the ball and tapped it off to Falcao who played a perfectly weighted pass to Pablo Armero, but the left-back struck wide.
The half played out in a scrappy fashion with both sides clearly feeling the nerves of their biggest game of the group stage. Peru struggled to have an real offensive input in the opening 45 minutes, while Colombia’s best spell came between kick off and the 10 minute mark.
The referee’s half-time whistle was a welcome sound to those on and off the pitch.
Peru started the second half brightly, getting their first real shot at goal in the 50th minute, but Joel Sánchez’s effort was pushed out by Arsenal’s David Ospina. The left side was proving to be a route of much joy for Peru.
Both managers looked to turn the game around with substitutions, Jefferson Farfán replaced Claudio Pizarro for Peru, while José Pékermen looked to Víctor Ibarbo in place of Armero.
Falcao continued to get on the end of chances, this time hitting well over from a James Rodríguez cross, the warning signs were there for Peru.
James and Jackson Martínez forced Gallese to pull off a double save soon after the latter came on, countering Peru at a blistering pace before meeting their match in Juan Arich goalkeeper.
Thankfully the full-time whistle was not too far away, which brought to an end arguably the worst game of the tournament thus far, the draw leaves both sides uncertain of their final position in Group C.
Colombia: Ospina; Arias, Zapata, Murillo, Armero (Ibarbo 57); Cuadrado, C Sánchez, Valencia (Mejia 24), James Rodríguez; Teó Gutiérrez, Falcao (Martínez 65)
Peru: Gallese; Advíncula, Zambrano, Ascues, J.Vargas; J Sánchez (Hurtado 81), Lobatón, Ballón, Cueva (Yotún 90); Pizarro (Farfán 56), Guerrero
Booked: Zapata, Ballón, C Sánchez, Lobatón
Goalscorers: N/A
Man of the Match: Josepmir Ballón. The central midfielder was crucial for Peru today. Despite making the game less entertaining for those watching, the football purists out there will have loved Ballón’s performance today, shutting down James Rodríguez to the extent at which Colombia managed to hit just three shots on goal.