Colombia 3 - Australia 2

Australia has come back from a three-goal deficit, to lose to Colombia by a single goal, in the friendly soccer international played in Bogota this afternoon.

Two goals, one from the penalty spot, in the final fifteen minutes gave the LG Socceroos some reward for ninety minutes of hard work, played under difficult and unfamiliar conditions.

Colombia took the lead in the 11th minute, Jorge Serna catching Australian goalkeeper Michael Petkovic out with a header, and the home side continued to pressure throughout the first half, with Petkovic forced into a number of saves.

Nestor Salazar took full advantage of a communication breakdown in the LG Socceroo defence in the second half, Steve Horvat and Con Blatsis colliding while attempting to clear the ball, with Salazar in the right place to clean up and bury the ball in clear the ball, with Salazar in the right place to clean up and bury the ball in the back of the net.

Another goal in the 74th minute to Freddy Grisales looked to have put the game out of Australia's reach, however two minutes later, the LG Socceroos got their first Australia's reach, however two minutes later, the LG Socceroos got their first goal on the board via the penalty spot, Steve Corica converting after Scott Chipperfield was fouled in the box.

Chipperfield then went on to collect Australia's second in the dying minutes, his hard work paying off after Colombian goalkeeper Farid Mondragon tried to play the ball from a back-pass, and instead lost it to the Wollongong Wolves midfielder, who slotted the ball home.


written by Soccer Australia