Colombia finished their World Cup tune-ups with a 3-1 win that reinforced a game plan built on defensive organisation and quick wide transitions. Davinson Sánchez headed them in front in the 17th minute and Luis Díaz added a second six minutes later. Andrey Soto pulled one back in the 33rd minute before Luis Suárez sealed the victory with an 81st-minute strike at Estadio Nemesio Camacho El Campín in Bogotá on 1 June 2026.

Colombia looked in control from the start, yet Costa Rica kept the scoreline tense until Luis Suárez's late finish gave the hosts breathing room.

Early control, early reward. Coach Néstor Lorenzo's side took the initiative in the first half, converting two strong sequences into goals that put pressure on Fernando Batista's visitors. Davinson Sánchez opened the scoring in the 17th minute, a header that came from a phase where Colombia dominated set-piece and transition moments. Six minutes later Luis Díaz doubled the lead with a composed finish after a swift move down the right, making it 2-0 and underlining the plan to use wide players to stretch the Costa Rica defence.

Costa Rica responded in the 33rd minute when Andrey Soto found the net to make it 2-1 going into half time. That goal kept the contest alive and showed why Batista was using the fixture to evaluate players during a rebuilding phase after missing out on the World Cup qualifying campaign. The first 45 minutes therefore left both staff with clear takeaways: Colombia could create and convert from the stronger early patterns, while Costa Rica retained resilience and the capability to punish lapses.

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Late finish settles selection questions. The game remained competitive through the second half as both teams tested tactical ideas and personnel. Colombia kept probing for space on the flanks, and Costa Rica looked for opportunities on the counter. With the score still 2-1, minutes for squad members pushing for World Cup selection were valuable; the coaching staffs could see how players coped under pressure in a match environment rather than in training.

That pressure was relieved in the 81st minute when Luis Suárez finished a move that restored a two-goal cushion, effectively deciding the contest. The match then ran on through five minutes of stoppage time before referee Guillermo Guerrero brought play to an end at Estadio Nemesio Camacho El Campín in Bogotá.

The result gives Lorenzo a clearer template for how to balance defensive solidity with quick transitions through wide players as he finalises his World Cup group preparations.

For Costa Rica the fixture offered a useful platform to test combinations and identify who might form the spine of the next cycle. Batista's selection choices and the minutes handed to younger players will factor into the plans as the federation continues its rebuilding.

Colombia arrived in this fixture after two mixed results in March, and the win on 1 June is a tidy finish to their friendly calendar. It's also a practical rehearsal: the match tempo, the scoring moments from set-piece and transition play, and the late-game management are all elements Lorenzo will weigh before the squad convenes for the World Cup. The starting XI showed the attacking combinations the coach wants to sharpen, while the defensive shape was aimed at controlling Costa Rica's counters.

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Colombia open their World Cup campaign in Group K on 17 June 2026, and Lorenzo now has a clearer template for finalising his squad and starting combinations to balance defensive solidity with wide attacking threats.

This article was created with AI assistance.