It was fairly heady stuff--prior to 1994 "Los Cafeteros" had been to just three World Cups. In 1962 in Chile, the team finished last in its group after a wild campaign. Opening with a 2-1 loss to South American champions Uruguay, Colombia rebounded with an astounding 4-4 draw against Russia in the next game, one of the highest scoring in World Cup history. It should be remembered that the Russian goalkeeper that day was the legendary Lev Yashin, widely regarded as the best keeper in history. One of the highlights that day was Marcus Coll scoring directly off a corner kick--the first--and so far only--Olympic goal in the history of the tournament. Colombia had fired all its weapons though and their stay ending with a 5-0 thumping at the hands of Yugoslavia.
Colombia missed the next six tournaments before making its return at Italia 90. After opening with a solid 2-0 victory over the United Arab Emirates, Colombia lost to Yugoslavia, 1-0. That set the stage for a final group game against mighty Germany, which would go on to win the title. In a dramatic match at the Giuseppe Meazza in Milan, Germany took the lead in the 89th minute through Pierre Littbarski. But Colombia hit back immediately, tying the score on a Freddy Rincon goal in the 90th minute. The 1-1 scoreline stood and the point was enough to send Colombia through to the round of 16.
The match against Cameroon made for more drama--but this time Colombia was on the wrong end. At the Stadio Sao Paolo in Naples, the two teams battled through 90 scoreless minutes before ageless Roger Milla put the Indomitable Lions ahead 1-0 in the 106th minute.
Then, in a moment that will be remembered as long as blooper reels are in existence, eccentric Colombian keeper Rene Higuita charged off--way off, like 35 yards off--his line but failed to clear the ball, allowing Milla to happily score Cameroon's second. The moment proved to be decisive as Bernardo Redin grabbed a late consolation to make the final score 2-1.
So all in all, a decent history on the biggest stage--nothing terrible but nothing to write home about. But as the 1990 tournament hinted at, there was something in the water in Colombia in the early part of the decade. A golden generation of players was taking shape and by the time qualifying for 1994 came around, the group was in full flower. Colombia stormed through its six matches, winning four and losing two while scoring 13 and conceding just two. The highlight of course was the famous 5-0 evisceration of Argentina at Buenos Aires on September 3, 1993.
The Argentine fans were brimming with confidence and rightfully so. Despite a 2-1 loss in Baranquilla three weeks prior, a defeat that ended Argentina's 33-match unbeaten streak, the home fans saw no reason why Alfio Basile's boys couldn't return the favor on home turf. The following match report and quotes comes from FIFA.com.
Their team (Argentina) still needed to take all three points to move ahead of Colombia in the standings and qualify for USA 1994 without the need for a play-off. For the Cafeteros, a point in front of their hosts before the start of play, a draw would be enough to see them through.
Yet even this seemed optimistic for the visitors on the evidence of the opening exchanges, during which up-and-coming Colombian keeper Oscar Cordoba was put under severe pressure by Basile's charges, Copa America winners in 1991 and 1993. As the minutes passed, however, and Argentina's dominance failed to produce an opener, so anxiety began to set in. Disaster then struck in the minutes leading up to half-time, El Pibe Valderrama picking up the ball in midfield before sending Freddy Rincon galloping through on Sergio Goycochea. The keeper was powerless to prevent Rincon rounding him and slotting the ball into the empty net, stunning the packed home crowd - including one Diego Maradona - into shocked silence.
Argentina burst out of the blocks after the break looking for an equaliser, only to leave gaping holes at the back for Valderrama and Co to exploit. And exploit them they did, with the Cafeteros adding three further goals via Rincon and a Faustino Asprilla brace before 20 second-half minutes had expired. It was at this point that Albiceleste followers began to seek out news from the match between Paraguay and Peru. In the event Argentina, runners-up at Italy 1990, were mighty grateful to the Peruvians for holding the Albirroja to a 2-2 draw, as a win for Paraguay would have edged out Basile's side on goal difference.
The fans packing the Monumental, enraged by their national team's display, began cheering Colombia's every touch after the fourth goal. The Cafeteros subsequently put the seal on this astonishing win, Argentina's first and so far only home defeat in FIFA World Cup qualifying, in the closing minutes via Adolfo El Tren Valencia. Applauded off the pitch by the home faithful, Colombia had secured their berth at USA 1994 in style. Argentina, meanwhile, were berated by supporters and media alike who clamoured for Maradona's return in time for the qualifying play-off against Australia.
The star
Faced with a performance of such magnitude, it would not be fair to highlight just one individual. Keeper Cordoba supplied a series of near-miraculous interventions, Valderrama dictated the tempo in midfield to perfection and Asprilla and Rincon took their chances with lethal aplomb. All of which, as well as the balance supplied by wide midfielder Leonel Alvarez, were key to the most memorable match in Colombian football history.
They said
"That result was excellent because we showed the world that Colombia can rise to the big occasion. Not for nothing did we reach three World Cups in a row. Some say that win went to our heads but that's football. It's a vehicle for dreams and disappointments and winning never does you any harm. That result has nothing to do with what happened later on." Francisco ‘Pacho' Maturana, Colombia coach in 1993
"When we scored the third, fourth and fifth goals I looked at Pacho and said to him, 'We're in for it now.' They (the media) were going to start saying we were the best team in the world. If we'd have lost they would have said we were the world's worst, but that 5-0 scoreline worried me because there was no sense of perspective in the country." Hernan Gomez, Maturana's assistant coach at the time
"I never want to think about that match again. It was a crime against nature, a day when I wanted to dig a hole in the ground and bury myself in it." Alfio Basile, then Argentina coach
Needless to say, the result was one of the most famous of the 20th century. Watching video of the match today, the result is no less astonishing now that it was then. Argentina's players look tentative, bewildered and confused while the Colombians play as if they have live wires runnign through their bodies. No wonder Pele was so moved--for that one night at least Colombia was Brazil. Next stop, the United States where the world was seemingly at their feet.Part 2: The death of a dream
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