[Sport] The 'curse' of the second qualifying date for Colombia

[#Steeven.™]

There is just over 24 hours left for the 'Tricolor' to play their second qualifying match for Qatar 2022. The victory against Venezuela is already part of the past and Carlos Queiroz's men are preparing for a very difficult match at the Nacional de Santiago against to Chile. Colombia visits the home of Reinaldo Rueda in a meeting where 'La Roja' will not be its only rival.

Since the elimination system for the 1998 World Cup in France was modified, Colombia has only been able to win once during the second round of the league that takes the teams of our continent to the highest event in this sport. A curious fact that James, Duván, Cuadrado, Muriel and company will try to overthrow in the Chilean capital.

The first of the meetings that marked the beginning of this negative trend occurred in Lima with the 1-1 between Incas and 'coffee growers' in 1996. Four years later the same would happen in La Paz, facing the World Cup in Korea and Japan 2002. Precisely against the Bolivians we would suffer the worst defeat on a second date, when Francisco Maturana Colombia would fall 4-0 at Hernando Siles.

In 2007, a goal scored on the line to Wason Renteria at more than 3600 meters above sea level prevented Colombia from winning for the first time on the second day of the new Qualifiers. The streak would end with the triumph of ours in 2011 thanks to the goals of Dorlan Pabón and Radamel Falcao, although it must be remembered that that meeting was the debut of the 'Tricolor' for that league. As Brazil was the host of the 2014 World Cup, our country fought on the first day.

 

A last painful antecedent
After the tremendous World Cup held by the National Team in 'Rio de Janeiro' lands and the debut with a qualifying victory over Peru 2-0 in Barranquilla, Colombia traveled to Montevideo to face Uruguay under Cavani and Luis Suárez.

Nothing could be worse that night. Uruguay beat us in all aspects of the game and the goals from Godín, Rolan and Abel Hernández fell short of what Colombia suffered in that match. Only a head butt to the stick by Jeison Murillo could disturb something to a 'Celeste' who, true to his style, beat the National Team that day.

Colombia wants to continue with its good moment on a collective and individual level. Against Chile they will have the chance not only to add a new three points that will put Qatar a little closer, but to end a curious and negative streak that the National Team suffers in the second round of Qualifying.