SAN DIEGO, California – Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego welcomed the last matchday of Group B on Tuesday evening, the first game seeing a 2-0 Colombia win against Puerto Rico.

With this result, Colombia secure, at minimum, second place in Group B, clinching a spot in the quarterfinals. Puerto Rico will await the results of Wednesday's matches to see if they advance.

Colombia came into the contest following their loss to Brazil, while Puerto Rico had a last-minute win against Panama.

Wanting to use the momentum from their last match, Puerto Rico FW Juelle Love tried to surprise Colombian GK Natalia Giraldo in the 2’, the Cafetera ready to stop her early chance. 

Colombia took their first lead since their first match in the 16’ when FW Manuela Pavi controlled a cross from the left, leaving the ball for FW Maria Usme to beat Puerto Rico GK Sydney Martinez for a 1-0 lead.

Las Boricuas tried to pull one back before the halftime whistle in the 45’+3 when captain and MF Nickolette Driesse launched a powerful shot from outside the área. Giraldo touched the ball enough to hit the crossbar and maintain the Colombian advantage. 

The second goal of the evening for Colombia came in the 53’ from the boots of sensation FW Linda Caicedo, who got the ball on the left side close to the area, dribbled between two Puerto Rican defenders and shot into the top right corner, getting her second goal in the tournament. 

Puerto Rico gave a last push to close the gap, but the Colombia defensive line held firm to secure the clean sheet.