Colombia’s women’s soccer team qualified for both the 2015 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics on Sunday after finishing second in the Copa America tournament.
The team drew with Brazil in the final of the Copa America to see them qualify for the World Cup in Canada next year and the Rio Olympics.
The women’s Copa America, the soccer championship of South America, concluded in Ecuador this past weekend. The Colombian team drew 0-0 with Brazil in the final game and finished runners-up in the competition. The team went undefeated in the competition and were the only team to do so. Their performance ensures classification for 2015 Canadian World Cup and Olympic Games in Rio in 2016. Despite the draw against Brazil the Colombians finished with good results and conceded only two goals and scored twelve.
In the final, Brazil and Colombia played a quiet game at the Olympic stadium in Atahualpa. In the first half, the Brazilians took the initiative and slowly put the squeeze on Colombia. The best chances for both teams came late in the game but neither team had the firepower to break the deadlock.
None of the two teams took the initiative and the game ended in a stalemate. Brazil took the title as champions of Copa America due to their 7 points, while Colombia finished with 5 points and runners-up.
“No one can complain that we did not leave our hearts on the field. I think in Ecuador and around the world we have shown that Colombian women’s football is destined for great things. For me and for the team we are champions,” newspaper El Espectador quoted the team’s number 10, Yoreli Rincon, as saying.
This is the team’s second time they have qualified for the World Cup after playing in the previous one held in Germany in 2011.
Sources
- Selección Colombia Femenina clasificó al Mundial y a los Olímpicos de Rio 2016 (El Espectador)
- Colombia join Brazil at Canada 2015 (FIFA)
