The last time Luis Diaz took the field for a Copa America group stage game, he scored a breathtaking acrobatic volley against continental heavyweights Brazil after only 10 minutes.
The famous Liverpool winger had a less spectacular debut in the 2024 edition, wasting a couple of second-half scoring chances as former Merseyside hero James Rodriguez stole the limelight in Colombia’s 2-1 victory over Paraguay on Monday.
Diaz started the contest with a great piece of play down the end line, resulting in an early Colombian opportunity. In the seventh minute, the left winger turned away from his defender towards the corner flag, creating enough space between two Paraguayan players to shoot a cross towards the back post, but Daniel Munoz’s header lacked force and trickled out harmlessly for a goal kick.
The 2022 Liverpool signee’s promising start faded when he completed only three of seven first-half passes and one successful dribble. Rodriguez, who departed Everton in 2021 after a single dismal season, stole the show for Los Cafeteros, with his well-placed crosses helping Colombia take a 2-0 lead into the locker room.
A beautiful feint just beyond the 18-yard box gave Rodríguez room on his preferred left foot, allowing him to find Munoz at the back post, who finished with a header drilled low at the near post. Colombia extended their lead just 10 minutes later, when current Premier League star Jefferson Lerma glancingly headed in Rodriguez’s free kick inside the far post.
Diaz had an opportunity to open his Copa America goal account as the second half began. Another set-piece delivery from Rodriguez was cleared as far as Diaz, who was lurking in the penalty area, but the Liverpool winger sliced his volley effort over the Paraguay goal by a few feet.
Paraguay halved the score in the 69th minute, causing noticeable tension in Houston’s mainly Colombian audience, and the ensuing open-ended play presented Diaz with a pair of good opportunities to contribute a goal. Diaz drove at the Paraguayan defence in transition with a quarter-hour left, giving Rodriguez a well-weighted layoff on an overlapping run. The offensive midfielder found himself unmarked just beyond the six-yard box, but chose to square the ball and miss the opportunity.
Diaz attempted to ice the game himself a minute later, when a great shot fake set him up for a chance on goal from a similar distance. However, the youthful winger struggled to find his footing and unleashed a thunderous strike into the side netting.
Overall, Diaz had a much greater influence in the second half, with 10 completed passes, including a few line-breaking actions that he struggled to find in the opening 45 minutes, and another completed dribble.
Despite only 0.63 predicted goals on the evening, Colombia survived a late scare from La Albirroja to begin its Copa America voyage with three points. Diaz and Colombia will face Costa Rica on Friday at 6 p.m. ET, broadcast on FS1.
