Copa America | Colombia defeats Paraguay 2-1 and wins a 9th match in a row

(Houston) Daniel Munoz scored in the 32^e minute and Jefferson Lerma at 42^eallowing Colombia to begin their Copa America journey with a 2-1 victory over Paraguay.

It was a ninth consecutive victory for the Colombian national team.

Colombia, which had possession 66 percent of the time, is undefeated in 24 games since a 1-0 loss to Argentina in a World Cup qualifying match on 1^er February 2022. She is 19-0-5 since then.

James Rodriguez set up Colombia’s two goals at his 101^e match on the international stage in front of a crowd of 67,059 spectators at NRG Stadium.

Julio Enciso scored Paraguay’s only goal in the 69th^e minute.

Colombia will face Costa Rica on Friday in Glendale, and Brazil on July 2 in Santa Clara. Paraguay will cross swords with Brazil on Friday in Las Vegas, then with Costa Rica on July 2, in Austin.

Colombia won the tournament in 2001 and lost on penalties in the semi-finals to Argentina in 2021. Paraguay triumphed in 1953 and 1979, but were eliminated in the quarterfinals in the last two editions .