Luis Diaz nets last-gasp stunner to hand Colombia victory in Copa America third-place play-off against Peru… with Porto striker scoring brace to take him level on goals with tournament top scorer Lionel Messi ahead of Sunday’s final
- Yoshimar Yotun put Peru ahead on the stroke of half time with lob over keeper
- Colombia captain Juan Cuadrado curled a free kick through the wall to level
- Luis Diaz got his third goal of the tournament 17 minutes later with a calm finish
- Gianluca Lapadula then headed an equaliser for Peru eight minutes from time
- But Diaz’s stunner gave Colombia their first third-place finish since 2016
Luis Diaz scored a second-half double, the second an unstoppable 25-metre strike in injury time, to give Colombia a 3-2 win over Peru on Friday and secure them third place in the Copa America.
Yoshimar Yotun put Peru ahead on the stroke of half time when he took Christian Cueva’s pass and lifted it over the advancing goalkeeper Camilo Vargas.
However, Colombia captain Juan Cuadrado curled a free kick through the middle of the wall and past Pedro Gallese to draw Colombia level after 49 minutes and then Diaz got his third goal of the tournament 17 minutes later with a calm finish.
Colombia secured third place in the Copa America play-offs thanks to two goals from Luis Diaz (front, second from left)
Yoshimar Yotun put Peru ahead on the stroke of half time with a lifted effort over the keeper
Colombia captain Juan Cuadrado (centre) curled a free kick through the wall to equalise
Gianluca Lapadula headed an equaliser for Peru eight minutes from time but Diaz’s sensational last-gasp goal gave Colombia their fifth third-place finish and first since 2016.
The Porto striker also drew level with Lionel Messi with four goals in the tournament, with the 34-year-old set to feature in Sunday’s final for Argentina final against Brazil.
The final between defending champions Brazil and Messi’s side will be played at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
‘I have always dreamed about these wins, doing good things with the national team,’ Diaz said after receiving his bronze medal. ‘But I never imagined to get all that I am living.’
‘We won because of Lucho,’ Cuadrado said, in a reference to Diaz’ nickname. ‘He has an excellent level and he will achieve great things.’
Diaz got his third goal of the tournament 17 minutes later with a calm finish inside the box
Gianluca Lapadula emphatically headed an equaliser for Peru eight minutes from time
But Diaz’s sensational last-gasp goal gave Colombia their fifth third-place finish and first since 2016