Colombia dominate Costa Rica 3-0 to reach Copa America quarterfinals

Davinson Sánchez and Jhon Córdoba scored three minutes apart in the second half, and Colombia advanced to the Copa America quarterfinals with a 3-0 win over Costa Rica on Friday.

Colombia controlled possession (62 percent) for the second straight game and led 1-0 at halftime on Luis Diaz's penalty kick in the 31st minute.

Los Cafeteros kept up the pressure in the second half and wrapped up Group D with a dominating performance in front of 27,386 pro-Colombian fans at State Farm Stadium. Colombia outshot Costa Rica 14-5 and faces Brazil on Tuesday in Santa Clara, California to close out the group stage.

Colombia have won 10 straight and are unbeaten in 25 games (20 wins and five draws) since losing at Argentina in a World Cup qualifier in 2022. Costa Rica did not have a shot on goal.

"Today was a game we dominated from start to finish," Colombia coach Néstor Lorenzo said through an interpreter.

Costa Rica had the first big surprise of the tournament, playing nine-time Copa America champion Brazil to a scoreless tie despite being outshot 18-2.

"Los Ticos" found themselves on their heels again against another powerhouse team in the desert – and it didn't go quite as well for the youngest roster in the tournament.

"The other team was clearly on another level," Costa Rica coach Gustavo Alfaro said.

Colombia controlled possession (66 percent) in its opening 2-1 win over Paraguay and dominated the ball early against Costa Rica.

Diaz had the first good chance in the fifth minute, just missing the crossbar on a header. James Rodriguez followed with the first shot on goal in the 20th minute, but Patrick Sequeira sprawled out for a diving save.

Diaz scored on the penalty kick after Sequeira took down a charging Córdoba at the edge of the penalty box. Los Cafeteros kept up the pressure, just missing another goal when Sanchez couldn't get a head on Díaz's bouncing cross.

Brazil 4-1 Paraguay

In the other Copa America game on Friday, Brazil beat Paraguay 4-1 to secure their first win at the tournament.

Three of Brazil's goals were scored within 15 minutes in the first half. They missed a good opportunity in the 30th minute as Lucas Paqueta blew a penalty kick. He made up for his mistake five minutes later by assisting Vinicius Junior, to score with a through ball.

Then in the 43rd minute, Paraguay's goalkeeper rejected Rodrygo's shot, but Matias Espinoza mishandled the ball which went to Savio. He shot it into the open goal, netting in an international game for the first time for his country.

In the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time, Paraguay's defender Omar Alderete failed to clear the ball out of the goal area and Vinicius scored his second goal of the game and extended Brazil's lead to 3-0.

Paraguay scored early in the second half after Alderete blew the ball into the left corner of Brazil's goal from outside the box. However, the referee gave Brazil another penalty in the 63rd minute. This time Paqueta didn't miss, adding the fourth goal for his side.

(With input from agency)