£40million-rated James Rodriguez and substitute Juan Quintero deservedly ensured the South Americans secured their second consecutive win, outplaying an Ivory Coast side whose big-name players Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba and Wilfried Bony disappointed.
Colombia top Group C with six points and will win it with a draw against Japan in their final match on Tuesday.
The Africans could also qualify for the knockout stages if they beat Greece in their final group game and they would have been lifted by a solo goal by former Arsenal striker Gervinho that set up a tense finish.
Both sides had started Group C with victories and the tens of thousands of Colombian fans who’d made the pilgrimage to Brasilia were in particularly optimistic mood.
Of particular interest to England fans was the appearance of referee Howard Webb in the middle – his first World Cup game since the infamous final in 2010.
Ivory Coast, the only African team to have won their opening fixture by beating Japan 2-1, named Premier League stars Toure, Cheick Tiote and Bony in their starting line-up.
The Swansea striker, who scored 25 goals last season, was largely anonymous and made way after an hour for Drogba
Colombia’s electrifying pace throughout their side make them one of the best counter-attacking teams in the tournament with Monaco’s Rodriguez – a reported Manchester United target – and Fiorentina’s Juan Cuadrado the best player on the pitch.
The tears from Ivory Coast’s Serey Die when the national anthems were played underlined the importance of the occasion though there was levity too when Webb had to stop play so a giant inflatable ball could be removed having been thrown onto the pitch in the early stages.
The contrasting styles of the two sides made for an intriguing rather than thrilling first half but Ivory Coast failed to put 38-year-old Colombian defender Mario Yepes under enough pressure.
Even Toure was subdued with the Manchester City powerhouse coming off second best as he was shadowed by Colombia’s Carlos Sanchez.
Colombian pressure finally told in the second half.
Webb correctly booked Didier Zokora for a crude challenge, the former Spurs midfielder’s second yellow card of the tournament to rule him out of their final group game.
Cuadrado’s shot from an acute angle was uncomfortably flipped onto the post by Ivorian goalkeeper Boubacar Barry and The Elephants manager Sabri Lamouchi decided to send on Drogba to try and stem the tide.
It didn’t work and Colombia went ahead after 64 minutes. Fittingly, it was man-of-the-match Cuadrado who took the right-footed corner with swerve and power and Rodriguez climbed above Zokora to head in with a terrific leap, Barry only helping to push the ball into the roof of the net when he got a
Colombia: Ospina, Armero (Arias 72), Yepes, Zapata, Zuniga, Sanchez Moreno, Aguilar (Mejia 78), Ibarbo (Quintero 53), Rodriguez, Cuadrado, Gutierrez.
Subs: Vargas, Carbonero, Guarin, Balanta, Ramos, Martinez, Valdes, Mondragon.
Goals: Rodriguez 64, Quintero 70.
Ivory Coast: Barry, Boka, Bamba, Zokora, Aurier, Die (Bolly 73), Tiote, Gervinho, Yaya Toure, Gradel (Kalou 67), Bony (Drogba 60).
Subs: Gbohouo, Viera, Kolo Toure, Akpa Akpro, Konan, Diomande, Djakpa, Sio, Sayouba.
Booked: Zokora.
Goal: Gervinho 74.
Referee: Howard Webb (England)
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