Colombia ties with Paraguay and complicates its outlook in the South American tie

Colombia extended its goal fast and gave Paraguay a 0-0 draw at home on Tuesday, which makes it stagger in the fight for one of the direct places at the Qatar-2022 World Cup.

Although the Colombian coach, Reinaldo Rueda, raised a team launched to attack from the beginning with the return of the talented James Rodríguez to the starter, the Paraguayans resisted the onslaught in the game played in hot Barranquilla.

Colombia, with 17 points, occupies the fourth position in the table, which gives a ticket to the World Cup, but it will have to hope that Chile does not defeat Ecuador in a duel that is played simultaneously to keep the box. Paraguay, meanwhile, moves away from Qatar in ninth position with 13 points.

Despite the fact that in the first half those of Rueda arrived, especially with Luis Díaz on the left to the goal of Paraguay, they were not forceful.

The locals had options with Miguel Borja, Luis Muriel, James Rodríguez, Juan Guillermo Cuadrado and Díaz himself, but they lacked offensive power.

Even the clearest goal option was for Albirroja with a shot from Miguel Almirón that hit the crossbar.

Diaz, in the 57th minute, filtered a pass to James who sent a left-foot shot from mid-range that was narrowly deflected.

At 85 Andrés Cubas was sent off for a double yellow card and Paraguay was left with 10 players. And at 92, Duván Zapata deluded Colombia. He self-enabled but his shot went wide.

On the fifteenth round, on January 27, Colombia will host Peru and Paraguay will host Uruguay.