Host Colombia became the first team to reach the knockout stages of the Under 20 World Cup by beating Mali 2-0 on Tuesday. Colombia have two convincing wins in their two games and even with one group game to go, it is guaranteed of finishing either in the top two in Group A or being among the best of the third-place teams. In other games on Tuesday, France beat South Korea 3-1, Portugal defeated Cameroon 1-0 and Uruguay drew 1-1 with New Zealand.
Jose Valencia scored for Colombia in the 23rd minute and James Rodriguez added another in the 90th, giving the South Americans six points in two matches following a 4-1 opening game victory over France. The last set of games in Group A will be on Friday when Colombia will take on South Korea in Bogota and Mali faces France in Cali. Colombia have six points, France and South Korea have three and Mali zero. Earlier Tuesday, France beat South Korea 3-1 in Bogota on late goals by Gueida Fofana and Alexandre Lacazette. Fofana scored in the 81st to break a 1-1 tie and Lacazette closed out the scoring in stoppage time. Gilles Sunu had given France the lead in the 27th before Kim Young-uk equalised in the 59th with a free kick. In Group B, striker Nelson Oliveira scored in the 19th minute to give Portugal a 1-0 victory over Cameroon. Portugal have four points, two more than Uruguay and New Zealand. Cameroon are last in the group with one point, but retain a chance to advance into the next round. Cameroon played a man down from the 71st after defender Ghislain Mvom was red carded. Earlier, Uruguay outplayed New Zealand from the start but were held 1-1.
