Figure caption,

Colombia denied late winner in enthralling draw with Portugal

ByEmma Smith
BBC Sport journalist
  • Colombia earn top spot in Group K as Portugal finish second

  • Teams had already qualified for last 32 but engaged in thrilling fight for first place

  • Davinson Sanchez denied late winner for Colombia by marginal offside call

  • Colombia's James Rodriguez impresses but Cristiano Ronaldo quiet for Portugal

  • PLAYER RATER

Colombia had a late goal controversially ruled out for offside but they still topped Group K at the expense of Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in Miami.

The South Americans appeared to have won a thrilling game in the 90th minute when Davinson Sanchez headed home, but he was denied by the verdict of the assistant referee - having been offside by a fraction.

Replays, broadcast in the stadium to hearty boos, showed the tip of the former Tottenham centre-back's right boot was offside when the cross was delivered for him to head past Diogo Costa.

While it was offside by the letter of the law and did not affect the group standings, it denied Colombia a win they would have deserved on the balance of play and left a sour taste in the BBC studio.

"It's onside, I don't care what they're telling me and what information they're giving me, that is onside," former England striker and BBC pundit Wayne Rooney said.

"That cannot be offside. Imagine that goal was to decide if Colombia were in or out of the next round."

Colombia manager Nestor Lorenzo meanwhile joked in his post-match media conference that he would ask Sanchez to visit a podologist before their next game.

Figure caption,

'Get rid of VAR!' Rooney unhappy Sanchez goal ruled out

Rather than progression or elimination, this game was to decide the order of the top two in Group K.

Portugal needed a win in order to top the pool, against opponents roared on by vast swathes of yellow-shirted fans.

Colombia striker Jhon Cordoba, brought into the starting XI for this game, headed over the bar inside the first minute before being denied brilliantly by a one-handed Diogo Costa save shortly after.

Portugal, led once again by 41-year-old Ronaldo, came into the game later in the first half as Colombia keeper Camilo Vargas made a stunning point-blank save from Bruno Fernandes.

Ronaldo, who had proclaimed "I'm back" when scoring twice last time out in the 5-0 win over Uzbekistan, returned to being a peripheral figure here as he had been in the 1-1 draw against DR Congo in Portugal's opener.

And the Portuguese hung on in the second half as Colombia came forward in waves, both Richard Rios and Gustavo Puerta coming close.

Luis Suarez hooked a volley over an open goal, before Sanchez was denied.

Yet while Colombia drew a World Cup blank for the first time since losing to England in 1998, they deservedly earned top spot in the group.

Analysis: A late group stage corker

Thanks to finishing first in Group L, England avoided a possible meeting with one of these two sides in the last 32. On the basis of this game, Three Lions fans should breathe a sigh of relief.

Despite this being Colombia's first goalless draw in 25 World Cup matches, it provided some of the best entertainment at the 2026 tournament so far.

The first-ever meeting of Colombia and Portugal was a game of highest quality, played in front of an extraordinarily feverish crowd made up primarily of the large local Colombian community of south Florida.

A remarkable 37 shots were attempted, with Colombia having 24 of them - their most on record in a World Cup match.

Both sides were run by their midfield generals, James Rodriguez and Fernandes. But rather than control and tempo, they dragged their armies forward in tit for tat, gung-ho attack.

James, making a Colombian record-breaking 11th World Cup appearance, was reminiscent of his prime 2014 model as he led his nation in quality and drive - he completed 38 passes in the final third - before being subbed to a standing ovation.

Portugal are projected to face Spain in the last 16 while Colombia potentially play Argentina in the quarter-finals. Both are absolutely ones to watch in the knockout stages.

What's next for these teams?

Group K winners Colombia will next face Ghana in Kansas City, with the game kicking off at 02:30 BST on Saturday, 4 July.

Runners-up Portugal will face Croatia, who finished second behind England in Group L, at 00:00 BST on Friday, 3 July - giving them a day less of preparation and recovery time.

Player of the match

Number: 10 J. Rodríguez
Average rating 7.61
Number: 10 J. Rodríguez
Average Rating: 7.61
Number: 2 D. Muñoz
Average Rating: 7.47
Number: 4 S. Arias
Average Rating: 7.35
Number: 6 R. Ríos
Average Rating: 7.22
Number: 20 J. Quintero
Average Rating: 7.12
Number: 11 J. Arias
Average Rating: 7.08
Number: 5 K. Castaño
Average Rating: 7.00
Number: 7 L. Díaz
Average Rating: 6.84
Number: 25 L. Suárez
Average Rating: 6.76
Number: 16 J. Lerma
Average Rating: 6.70
Number: 14 G. Puerta
Average Rating: 6.68
Number: 23 D. Sánchez
Average Rating: 6.67
Number: 12 C. Vargas
Average Rating: 6.64
Number: 9 J. Córdoba
Average Rating: 6.59
Number: 3 J. Lucumí
Average Rating: 6.34
Number: 22 D. Machado
Average Rating: 6.28

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.