United States beat 10-player Colombia 2-0 to advance to quarterfinals

The United States advanced to the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup, beating 10-player Colombia 2-0 on Monday night in Edmonton.

Alex Morgan got the U.S. on the board early in the second half beating Colombia backup goalkeeper Stefany Castano at the near post to give her team the lead. Carli Lloyd added another goal from the penalty spot to effectively put the match away in the 65th minute.

Less than two minutes into the second half, Colombia's starting keeper Catalina Perez took Morgan down on a breakaway run at goal. The U.S. was awarded a penalty and Perez was given a red card that took Colombia down to 10 players and forced backup keeper Castano to come on to replace her.

On Castano's first play after entering the match, she stared down U.S. captain Abby Wambach, who stepped up to take the penalty for her team, but her shot sailed wide of the left post and the game remained level.

Just a few minutes later, Morgan picked up the ball on the right side of the penalty area, dribbled toward the net and drove a hard shot to the near post that deflected off Castano's hand an into the goal to give the U.S. the lead.

Megan Rapinoe was fouled in the penalty area in the 65th minute and Carli Lloyd stepped up and converted from the spot to make it 2-0.

Alex Morgan, right, and her U.S. teammates celebrate after scoring to go up 1-0 in their World Cup win over Colombia.
Michael Chow/USA TODAY Sports

The U.S. team were heavy favorites coming into the match and dominated possession and shots on goal throughout against Colombia, who finished third in their group but did pull off an upset against France.

An early Wambach goal was ruled offside and while the U.S. created some good chances throughout the first half, a resolute and physical Colombia side were able to keep their opponents at bay.

Megan Rapinoe was whistled for a foul in the 41st minute and was handed her second yellow card of the tournament, meaning she will miss the next match for her team. Teammate Lauren Holiday also received a yellow card 15 minutes earlier and will miss the next match for the U.S.

The U.S. continued to send dangerous balls into the Colombia penalty area, but were routinely turned away and the teams went to the locker room tied 0-0 after the first 45 minutes.

Once the U.S. had their second goal, they closed defensive ranks and Colombia were unable to muster anything in the attack, as their efforts to score and find two equalizing goals were in vain.