playing soccer for Colombia.

http://www.utrockets.com/news/2016/7/18/...?path=wsoc

Play gets underway today (the 3rd) in Rio: Colombia meets France at 9 pm Eastern. The USA is in the same group as Columbia and meets New Zealand at 6 Eastern.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/live-stream-schedule/soccer

Colombia lost to France 4-0.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/france-b...p-g-action

Athletes having a rough go down there I guess. Always tough to know the realities from the media. Hope they are well, safe and enjoying themselves (theirselves? Help me out).

Colombia lost to New Zealand 1-0.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/new-zeal...p-g-action

Saw just a few minutes of the France game, and most of the NZ game, and it really looks like Columbia has regressed since the World Cup. Of course, drawing the same group as #1 ranked US and #3 ranked France doesn't help.

They dominated possession in the 2nd half against NZ, but didn't really come close to putting the ball in the net, save for 1 set piece off the crossbar. Natalia is playing mid-field this time, where I seem to recall her traditional spot is center back. I think she is better as a defender, personally.

I do see that she is playing club ball for Valencia in the Spanish 1st division this year.
http://www.valenciacf.com/ver/44139/.html

Also came across this article on her:

Gaitan, Colombia’s very own superwoman: http://www.fifa.com/womensolympic/news/y...91645.html

I did not know that she overcame leukemia as a child. There's also this tidbit:

Quote:Gaitan plays the game with gritted teeth, literally so, as she proved in a Spanish league match against Real Sociedad last October, when she lost several teeth after colliding with an opponent, forcing her to go on a liquid diet for 40 days.

Despite the poor showing so far, big congrats to Natalia & Isabella for continuing to make it to the biggest stages of the sport.

US playing Columbia now on NBCSN.

Gaitan wearing the captain's band per usual. Announcers mentioned that she played at Toledo. Mention that the other players look to her for direction on the field. Mentioned that Natalia has captained every game she has played for the National teams since U17.

Game is tied at 1 at the half.

Natalia had a strong half. Was all over the field, making a couple key tackles defending goal, made some plays in midfield and came tantalizingly close to being in alone on goal, save for a great clear by the US player. Columbia looks to be playing much better overall this game, but I think it's only a matter of time before the US exerts their superiority and closes out the game.

Still, first ever Olympic goal, and first ever goal against the US for Columbia.

Isabella is in the match as a sub for Columbia at halftime.

Whoever is calling the game on NBC sports against the US just said UT twice in reference to the Colombian players. Just to hear University of Toledo mentioned during a Olympic match was nice...

(08-09-2016 06:18 PM)Rocket_Fanatic Wrote:  Whoever is calling the game on NBC sports against the US just said UT twice in reference to the Colombian players. Just to hear University of Toledo mentioned during a Olympic match was nice...

Not quite Mark Beieresque, but definitely a nice solid RRRROCKETS!!!!

Interesting that Echeverri who has traditionally been a mid-fielder, is playing center back, while Gaitan who has traditionally been a center back is playing mid field.

2-2 final. Even though it wasn't a win, was probably still the biggest accomplishment for Columbia to tie the #1 US team.

US certainly under-performed today, but it was a great effort by Columbia too. If they had played that well in their first 2 games, they would probably have qualified for the knock out round.

A recap of Isa's and Natalia's Olympics.

http://www.utrockets.com/news/2016/8/11/...?path=wsoc

(08-09-2016 06:25 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Interesting that Echeverri who has traditionally been a mid-fielder, is playing center back, while Gaitan who has traditionally been a center back is playing mid field.

My love for soccer is so deep that I have no idea where any of those positions are on the field, except I can probably figure it out by the name - mid-fielder, etc. I'm used to gym class where everyone just chased after the ball and kicked the hell out of shins or anything else that got in the way. Probably why I never liked the game.

Nice photo of Echaverri in the Blade today.

Several spanish language articles indicate that Gaitan has been saying there is a bad relationship between the coach and the players and that is holding back the team. At least I think that's what the articles say. Google translate doesn't seem to understand spanish at all, or is programmed with a spanish-to-gibberish translator.

Resurrecting a very old thread to report that both Gaitan and Echeverri are playing for Columbia in the Pan Am games going on in Lima Peru. Columbia has made it to the semi-finals, where they will play Costa Rica, on Tuesday.

Isa scored a somewhat unusual goal in the last game against Mexico: