Colombia beats Greece 3-0 in Group C opener

By FRANK GRIFFITHS ASSOCIATED PRESS

11 years ago

Colombia’s Teofilo Gutierrez, centre, celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the group C World Cup soccer match between Colombia and Greece at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Saturday, June 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Colombia’s Pablo Armero celebrates after scoring during the group C World Cup soccer match between Colombia and Greece at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Saturday, June 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Colombia’s Pablo Armero, right, kicks the ball at Greece’s goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis to score his side’s first goal during the group C World Cup soccer match between Colombia and Greece at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Saturday, June 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Greece’s Kostas Manolas fails to stop the ball as Colombia’s Pablo Armero scores the opening goal during the group C World Cup soccer match between Colombia and Greece at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Saturday, June 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Colombia’s Teofilo Gutierrez, left, celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the group C World Cup soccer match between Colombia and Greece at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Saturday, June 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil — Colombia started its first World Cup campaign in 16 years in dazzling fashion, beating Greece 3-0 with goals from Pablo Armero, Teofilo Gutierrez and James Rodriguez in the Group C opener on Saturday.

Left back Armero opened the scoring in the fifth minute when his deflected shot rolled past Greece goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis. Striker Teofilo Gutierrez poked in Colombia’s second goal from a deflected corner in the 58th that confused Karnezis and two defenders covering the near post.

Greece had a chance to pull a goal back after Gutierrez’s goal, but an unmarked Georgios Samaras rattled the crossbar from close range.

James Rodriguez scored with a low shot in stoppage time after a slick backheel flick from Juan Cuadrado