While Uruguay picked up the momentum as the matches in the group stages progressed, Colombia were really struggling and at one point their qualification for the next round was at stake, but they managed to salvage respect and secure a place in the last eight where they stunned Uruguay and claimed a place in the semifinals.
The match started with the intensity of holding off each other rather than advancing forward. Neither was there any cutting edge from the frontliners nor was there any rhythm in the game – tackles here and there, nervy moments appearing in patches, sitting deep and as if both the teams wanted the game to move towards a penalty shootout.
Uruguay began this tournament in the middle of a goal drought and although they scored twice against Bolivia and once against Paraguay in their two games last week they still looked uncomfortable upfront, with service to Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani sparse and neither striker firing on all cylinders.
Colombia, too, looked like they missed suspended midfield general Juan Cuadrado and neither side showed much composure in a game that was characterized by stray passes and painfully slow transitions from the back.
Both sides could only muster one shot on target between them in the first half but things changed after the break as both teams started to lose their inhibitions and come forward.
Ospina, who made a record 112-appearances at Brasilia, was the hero after he saved spot-kicks from Jose Maria Gimenez and Matias Vina.
Colombia left the stadium with smiles on their faces.
