HOUSTON -- Costa Rica defeated Colombia 3-2 on Saturday evening in the final game in Group A of the Copa America Centenario. The surprise result means the United States topped the group after it defeated Paraguay 1-0 earlier on Saturday.
Here are three takes from one of the best games of the Copa America Centenario so far:
1. Pekerman pays for making wholesale changes
The run of five consecutive wins for the Colombia national team came to a halt Saturday, as coach Jose Nestor Pekerman wrung the changes from the 2-1 victory last Tuesday against Paraguay, with a place in the quarterfinals already guaranteed.
Only Atletico Nacional midfielder Sebastian Perez kept his spot in the starting XI to face Costa Rica. David Ospina, James Rodriguez, Carlos Bacca, Juan Cuadrado et al were left on the bench.
The result was a disjointed first-half effort from Colombia and a poor result, leaving Los Cafeteros in second in Group A and set to play the winner of Group B -- likely to be Brazil -- in the quarterfinals on Friday in New Jersey.
After an impressive first two games for Colombia at this Copa America Centenario, the result was a bit disappointment for Pekerman's side and the vast majority of the 45,808 fans inside NRG Stadium.
Costa Rican striker Johan Venegas opened the scoring in the second minute with a curling shot from outside the area, but Colombia got back on track when Frank Fabra equalized five minutes later. Nevertheless, it was clear Los Ticos had come to play, following an embarrassing 4-0 loss to the United States, which virtually ended Costa Rica's chances of reaching the knockout stages of the tournament.
Costa Rica again went ahead when Fabra bumbled the ball into his own net in the 34th. By halftime, Colombia fans had already started chants for Rodriguez and Pekerman took heed, sending on the Real Madrid star, as well as Monterrey's Edwin Cardona, for the second half.
Colombia's zest and zip instantly improved as James began to control the game and press for the equalizer, with the supporters getting behind the team with cries of "si se puede."
But it was the very well-organized CONCACAF nation that extended its lead in the 58th, through an excellently taken goal by Celso Borges, who was assisted by Bryan Ruiz.
Colombia continued to push forward -- with Cuadrado the final sub to come on in the 66th -- and set up a rousing finish when Marlos Moreno netted in the 73rd.
The leveler didn't come for Colombia, which may well now have to face a repeat of the 2014 World Cup quarterfinal, which Brazil won 2-1.
2. Costa Rica shows up late to Copa America
It was a strange display from the Central American nation, but one that bodes well for World Cup qualifying and for coach Oscar Ramirez moving forward.
In a group that was considered open, Costa Rica will have been extremely disappointed to be basically out of the reckoning after games against Paraguay and the United States.
Sure, this wasn't Colombia's best team, but Costa Rica showed the same toughness defensively as in its run to the 2014 World Cup quarterfinals. It also showed some real drive to take the result over the line, despite having very little to play for.
It was upfront, however, where Los Ticos really impressed in a 5-4-1 formation. Christian Bolanos, Borges and Ruiz all kept the excellent Venegas well-supported. The Costa Rican counter-attacks highlighted that Colombia may have a soft underbelly, although Pekerman would likely point out that if this was a game that was truly a playoff match, he wouldn't have picked Yerry Mina and Felipe Aguilar as his central defensive partnership.
The question for Costa Rica was why it took it so long to find this kind of form in the tournament. Los Ticos would surely now be in the quarterfinals had they started the Copa America as they exited it.
3. Match serves as a Copa America reminder
Although there weren't many of them, neutral fans coming to the NRG Stadium on Saturday can't have expected much. If anything, this was supposed to be a routine win for Colombia, or even a draw, with the South Americans cruising to top spot in Group A and Costa Rica's players' minds already on resting back home and/or on the beach.
What followed was one of the games of the tournament and a genuine shock. In the process, Colombia's path to winning this Copa America suddenly seems to have become much more difficult.
It does hit home that nothing should be taken for granted in this tournament. While the European Championship has its obvious merits and there are very good teams in South America, CONCACAF nations have also shown their worth and teams from the northern region could top two of the four groups by the end of the group stage.
There is also a warning for Mexico for Monday night's game against Venezuela -- also in Houston. The temptation for Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio to rest players, taking into account both teams are already through, is probably great, but a loss against a Vinotinto would mean a quarterfinal against Argentina.