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Colombia rode three second-half goals to a 4-2 friendly win against the United States in Tampa on Thursday night. U.S. interim manager Dave Sarachan fielded a starting XI that mixed national team veterans -- including U.S. captain Michael Bradley making his first appearance since the team failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup -- with their younger counterparts against a near first-choice Colombia side. The visitors were firmly on the front foot in the opening minutes and could have been one up shortly after kickoff had Radamel Falcao not blazed a close-range volley well over the crossbar. Julian Green had the best chance for the Americans in the opening 15 minutes when he cut inside to his right foot and fired a line drive from outside the penalty area just wide of David Ospina's goal. Colombia's pressure eventually told before the break when James Rodriguez swiveled back onto his left foot inside the U.S. penalty area and curled an unstoppable shot over Zack Steffen to give Colombia a 1-0 lead at half-time. The U.S. got off to a dream start after the break when Kellyn Acosta volleyed home at the back post from an Antonee Robinson cross minutes before Bobby Wood finished off a counter-attack from a pinpoint Tim Weah through ball to make it 2-1 in favor of the hosts. However, the lead wouldn't last as Santiago Arias picked out Carlos Bacca with a cutback pass that the Villarreal striker knocked home with a first-time shot to make it 2-2 with the hour mark approaching. Colombia retook the lead in the 74th minute on a rapid-fire counter move that saw Falcao hit a perfect first-time shot from Juan Quintero's assist past Steffen and Miguel Borja then make it 4-2 with an neat overhead finish from Rodriguez's looped cross from the right side. The U.S. plays its next match on Tuesday in another friendly against Peru in East Hartford, Connecticut.
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