Colombia got their FIFA Women's World Cup Finals campaign off to a winning start at Allianz Stadium on July 25, comfortably accounting for Korea Republic 2-0 in front of 24,323 fans, who were on hand to see the youngest ever FIFA Women's World Cup Finals player take to the pitch late in the match. The Koreans started strongly, So Hyun Cho seeing her third minute drive deflected to safety, while Ji So Yun's resulting corner was pawed away by Colombian goalkeeper Catalina Perez, who grabbed a free-kick from Ji in the eleventh minute as the "Taeguk Ladies" piled on the pressure early doors. But Colin Bell's charges slowly to lose momentum, and started conceding unnecessary free-kicks as "Las Cafeteras" started to get a foothold in the game, a grip which strengthened considerably on the half-hour as they took the lead. It was a harsh handball call against Seo Yeon Shim as Manuela Vanegas' fierce drive slammed into her, but the letter of the law had to be applied by English referee Rebecca Welch, and to the penalty spot she pointed. Catalina Usme sent Young Geul Yoon the wrong way from the spot, and the Colombians were on their way. It was a blow from which the Koreans never recovered, and soon afterwards, they were facing their footballing Mount Everest. After Usme had stung the gloves of Yoon with a long-range free-kick, Colombia doubled their lead in the 39th minute. Teenage sensation Linda Caicedo set off on a rampaging run down the left from halfway, beating three opponents en route to unleashing a twenty yard rocket which proved too hot for Yoon to handle, the 'keeper succeeding only in parrying a shot she should have saved into her net - 2-0. Korea had to score next if they harboured hopes of getting something from the game, preferably before the interval. Just prior to it, they came close to halving the deficit, Ji leading the charge on the left before slipping the ball inside to Yu Ri Choe, who held off two opponents en route to the by-line, from where she fired in a cross for Geum Min Lee. Her downward header was turned away on the bounce by Perez - a fine save to conclude the first

half's action. To describe the second spell as lively doesn't do it justice. It was an extremely open affair, but one in which defences dominated, meaning chances were few and far between. Colombia always seemed to hold the upper hand, nearly scoring a third goal in the 58th minute when Leicy Santos' long-range free-kick was allowed to bounce by the Korean rearguard, the ball careering narrowly past Yoon's left-hand post. Three minutes later, the outstanding Mayra Ramirez headed narrowly over from Usme's measured cross, while in the 67th minute Lorena Bedoya Durango's shot on the run was blocked by Seon Joo Lim, at a time when Korea's desperation for a goal was rapidly increasing. It eventually led to them introducing the youngest ever player to grace the FIFA Women's World Cup Finals stage - at 5'11, US-based Casey Phair looks a lot older than someone who turned sixteen 26 days ago, and she wasn't shy of making her presence known in the time she was on the park. Alas for Korea, the new arrival made no difference to their attacking shortcomings, and it was the Colombians who could have won by a greater margin come the final whistle. Nine minutes from time, Ramirez raced past three opponents down the right before linking with Usme once more. Her clever dummy revealed her awareness of Caicedo coming in behind her, but her 81st minute shot was blocked to safety. In stoppage time, Ramirez was denied the goal her efforts merited, Yoon right behind her twenty yard drive. Colombia had long been home and dry in this one, however, their 2-0 win putting them well on course to advancing to the knockout stages for the second time in their history. Colombia:     Perez; C. Arias (booked, 45), Carabali, D. Arias, Vanegas (booked, 10); Montoya (Ospina Garcia, 87), Bedoya Durango, Santos (Restrepo, 76); Caicedo, Ramirez, Usme Korea Rep.:     Yoon; Kim, Lim (booked, 45), Shim (booked, 29); Ji, Cho (Park, 68), Choo (Moon, 87), Jang; Lee, Son (Kang, 68), Choe (Phair, 78) Referee:     Rebecca Welch (England)