Internationals | Mosquera scores first Colombia goal

11th September 2024

Yerson Mosquera found the net for the first time in his international career as he helped Colombia to a historic victory over Argentina in World Cup qualification.

Having missed out on a final place in Colombia’s Copa America squad this summer, the centre-back proved just what his country was missing after rising high at the back post to powerfully head James Rodriguez’s cross past Emi Martinez to give his side the lead on 25 minutes.

Mosquera burst into tears as he celebrated his debut senior international goal, but composed himself to put in a stellar defensive showing as Colombia held on to record a 2-1 victory – although he was taken off with a suspected injury just minutes from full time.

The result means Colombia have now beaten both Brazil and Argentina in the same qualification round for the first time in history, and Mosquera’s side are in an excellent spot to make the 2026 World Cup, currently sitting second in the CONMEBOL standings thanks to their 16 points from eight matches so far.

The rest of Wolves’ South American contingent were also aiming to reach the World Cup in two years’ time, with the eighth games in the CONMEBOL qualification group all taking place in the early hours of this morning.

Following Mosquera’s heroics with Colombia, Uruguay were next up and his fellow centre-back Santi Bueno was in the starting line-up once again as his country faced an away trip to Venezuela.

The defender played the entire 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet as Uruguay added a point to the 15 they have already accumulated and now sit third in the group standings, just one point behind Colombia.

Andre was another Wolves player who spent the whole 90 minutes on the pitch for his country in the early hours, but the defensive midfielder was unable to guide Brazil to victory, falling to a 1-0 loss away to Paraguay. Joao Gomes was also in the squad, but was an unused substitute.

Hee Chan Hwang was also back among the goals this week for South Korea as he opened the scoring for his country in their 3-1 win over Oman.

The forward netted the 15th goal of his international career just 10 minutes into Korea’s second World Cup qualifier of September when he picked up a pass from Heung-min Son 25 yards out from goal, before lashing a low drive into the bottom corner of the net having not been closed own by the Oman defence.

Despite Oman equalising before the break, Hwang played his part in his team’s victory – before being substituted on 89 minutes – as they turned the result around in the second half thanks to goals from Son and Min-Kyu Joo.

Back in Europe and there were also Wolves players involved in Nations League action for their countries this week, as Nelson Semedo and Matt Doherty saw time on the pitch for Portugal and the Republic of Ireland respectively.

Semedo had already added two caps to his tally earlier in the week, and Doherty replicated that of his fellow right-back, as he followed up a start against England at the weekend by coming off the bench in the second half of Ireland’s 2-0 loss to Greece.

Having played the final 20 minutes of Norway’s goalless draw with Kazakhstan last week, Jorgen Strand Larsen was an unused sub in the 2-1 win over Austria on Monday evening. The result puts his country tied at the top of the League B Group 3 table with Slovenia after their opening matches.

Finally, Carlos Forbs scored his first goal for Portugal under-21s as he came off the bench to net the second in his side’s 2-0 away win over Croatia in their U21 Euros qualifier.

Rodrigo Gomes started the contest and played the entire 90 minutes at right-back, while Forbs replaced Fabio Silva with 10 minutes remaining before putting the result beyond doubt in the closing stages. His goal has taken Portugal to 21 points in qualifying and confirmed their spot in next summer’s U21 Euros.

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