Colombia down Brazil to go one step closer to WXV

Colombia were winners at home on Wednesday. Played at the Estadio Cincuentenário in Medellín, Colombia defeated Brazil 24-23. The win came after Las Tucanes had held a 21-8 advantage at half-time. Second half yellow cards and a dubiously awarded late score to Brazil saw the game go down to the wire.

The match was the first of two between the teams in Colombia. It followed a recent match won by Las Tucanes in Brazil. All attention will now turn to game two this coming Sunday. The prize is a place at the WXV.

Brazil had a good start in Medellín. Lohana Valente kicked As Yaras to an early lead. It was short-lived; however, as Colombia hit-back with two tries. The first saw scrum-half Andrea Ramirez breaking the line and providing an asset try to N8 Valentina Álvarez. The second saw the power of Laura Gutiérrez going over from a pick-and-go.

Meanwhile, Brazil were down a woman as Patrícia Lima was yellow carded. Brazil soaked up the pressure and scored a try of their own. Center Edna Santini went over for As Yaras. Colombia responded with a penalty and then their third try. Álvarez made it a double and put Colombia well ahead at 21-8.

The second-half saw Taís Gomes scoring early on. The try was followed by pressure which saw two Colombian players yellow carded. Then with five minutes remaining controversy struck. Brazil score from a cross-kick. Lohana Valente was awarded a try despite no evidence of grounding the ball and the ball was dead in goal.

It made for a nervous final five minutes for Las Tucanes. They kicked deep from the restart and were able defend until time was over and they secured possession before kicking the ball out.

The WXV will consist of eighteen teams. South American will have one. The winner of the series between Colombia and Brazil will secure the spot. The WXV will take place in Dubai from October 14-28. The South American side will face Ireland and either Italy or Spain in addition to Kenya, Kazakhstan and Fiji.

SCORING

COLOMBIA (24)
Try – V Álvarez (2); L Gutierrez
Con – M Arzuaga (3)
Pen – M Arzuaga
YC – V Cuartas; E Sarmiento

BRAZIL (23)
Try – E Santini; T Gomes; L Valente
Con – L Valente
Pen – L Valente (2)
YC – P Lima

TEAMS

COLOMBIA
15 Laura Diosa, 14 Leydi Garcia, 13 Luisa Zurique, 12 Leidy Soto, 11 Maria Arzuaga, 10 Camila Lopera, 9 Andrea Ramirez, 8 Valentina Álvarez, 7 Angela Alzate, 6 Valeria Cuartas, 5 Paola Delgado, 4 Laura Gutiérrez, 3 Carolina Naranjo, 2 Silvia Olave, 1 Natalia Barajas

Replacements: 16 Tatiana Delgado, 17 Natalia Caisedo, 18 Camila Cardona, 19 Sara Velez, 20 Tatiana Hernández, 21 Estefania Sarmiento, 22 Isabel Ramirez, 23 Valentina Tapias

BRAZIL
15 Patrícia Bodeman, 14 Lohana Valente, 13 Edna Santini, 12 Amanda Araújo, 11 Ana Júlia Dias, 10 Marina Fioravanti, 9 Aline Mayumi, 8 Íris Coluna (capt.), 7 Letícia Medeiros, 6 Milena Mariano, 5 Grasiele Bomfim, 4 Ana Carolina Santana, 3 Patrícia Lima, 2 Tainá Amorim, 1 Taís Gomes

Replacements: 16 Júlia Leni, 17 Carolina Palazzini, 18 Franciele Barros, 19 Natália Momberg, 20 Eshyllen Coimbra, 21 Luiza Campos, 22 Paula Sarmento, 23 Ariely Faria

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Federico Solari (AR)
Federico Longobardi (AR); Nicolás Cotic (AR)