Duvan Zapata scored with an 86th-minute header off a perfect cross by James Rodriguez to give Colombia a 1-0 win over guest Qatar and a spot in the knockout stage of the Copa America on Wednesday.
After squandering many scoring opportunities and being held by a great performance by Qatari goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb, Colombia broke through when Rodriguez found Zapata making a run behind Qatar defenders inside the area. He headed the ball over Sheeb, finding the far corner.
Click to Gallery
Duvan Zapata scored with an 86th-minute header off a perfect cross by James Rodriguez to give Colombia a 1-0 win over guest Qatar and a spot in the knockout stage of the Copa America on Wednesday.
Colombia reached six points from two matches in Group B, while Qatar stayed with one point. Paraguay, which plays its second match against Argentina later Thursday in Belo Horizonte, also has one point, one more than Argentina.
Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni
Qatar's Akram Afif, left, falls followed by Colombia's William Tesillo, center, and Wilmar Barrios during a Copa America Group B soccer match at the Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, June 19, 2019. (AP PhotoVictor R. Caivano)
Colombia's Duvan Zapata, left, Qatar's Bassam Al Rawi and Boualem Khoukhi rub their heads after clashing for a header during a Copa America Group B soccer match at Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, June 19, 2019. (AP PhotoNelson Antoine)
Colombia's Stefan Medina, left, shoots past Qatar's Abdelkarim Hassan during a Copa America Group B soccer match at the Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, June 19, 2019. (AP PhotoAndre Penner)
Colombia's Mateus Uribe, center, faces Qatar's Pedro Correia, 2, during a Copa America Group B soccer match at the Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, June 19, 2019. (AP PhotoVictor R. Caivano)
Colombia's James Rodriguez reacts during a Copa America Group B soccer match at the Morumbi stadium against Qatar in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, June 19, 2019. (AP PhotoVictor R. Caivano)
Colombia's Yerry Mina, center, heads the ball as teammate James Rodriguez, right, misses his attempt during a Copa America Group B soccer match at Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, June 19, 2019. (AP PhotoNelson Antoine)
Colombia had a goal disallowed for offside a few minutes into the match, and early in the second half it had a penalty kick reversed by video review.
Qatar's goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb, second from left, pushes out the ball during a Copa America Group B soccer match against Colombia at the Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, June 19, 2019. (AP PhotoVictor R. Caivano)
Colombia reached six points from two matches in Group B, while Qatar stayed with one point. Paraguay, which plays its second match against Argentina later Thursday in Belo Horizonte, also has one point, one more than Argentina.
The Colombians were coming off an impressive win over Argentina in the opener, while Qatar drew with Paraguay after trailing by two goals.
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/apf-Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Colombia's Roger Martinez, left, scores his side's opening goal, which was later annulled during a Copa America Group B soccer match at the Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, June 19, 2019. (AP PhotoAndre Penner)
Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni
Colombia's Yerry Mina heads the ball during a Copa America Group B soccer match against Qatar at the Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, June 19, 2019. (AP PhotoVictor R. Caivano)
Qatar's Akram Afif, left, falls followed by Colombia's William Tesillo, center, and Wilmar Barrios during a Copa America Group B soccer match at the Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, June 19, 2019. (AP PhotoVictor R. Caivano)
Colombia's Duvan Zapata, left, Qatar's Bassam Al Rawi and Boualem Khoukhi rub their heads after clashing for a header during a Copa America Group B soccer match at Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, June 19, 2019. (AP PhotoNelson Antoine)
Colombia's Stefan Medina, left, shoots past Qatar's Abdelkarim Hassan during a Copa America Group B soccer match at the Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, June 19, 2019. (AP PhotoAndre Penner)
Colombia's Mateus Uribe, center, faces Qatar's Pedro Correia, 2, during a Copa America Group B soccer match at the Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, June 19, 2019. (AP PhotoVictor R. Caivano)
Colombia's James Rodriguez reacts during a Copa America Group B soccer match at the Morumbi stadium against Qatar in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, June 19, 2019. (AP PhotoVictor R. Caivano)
Colombia's Yerry Mina, center, heads the ball as teammate James Rodriguez, right, misses his attempt during a Copa America Group B soccer match at Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, June 19, 2019. (AP PhotoNelson Antoine)