David Luiz sends hosts to semi-finals with stunning free-kick

Order and progress it says on the Brazilian flag. It’s impossible not to avoid the green, yellow and blue colours which decorate this vast country from the bunting in the streets to the paint on the faces of children.

On Friday night, there was progress into the last four, thanks to an early strike by Thiago Silva and a delicious free-kick by David Luiz, but there was very little order in evidence, at least not on the pitch.

The game was a frantic spectacle where hearts ruled heads, unleashed like a 90-minute sugar-rush. It could have been a runaway home win or quite easily another tear-jerker for the host nation, as Colombia summoned a noble finish.

Ultimately, the progress of Luiz Felipe Scolari’s team into the last four of the World Cup will ensure order on the cities of Brazil, and that may be for the best.

Stunning: Brazil defender David Luiz strikes an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner of the net

Pick that one out! Luiz celebrates after hitting an incredible free-kick past Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina

Flying high: Luiz raced to the corner flag before jumping and kicking it as he celebrated scoring for Brazil

Special strike: David Luiz points to the goal following his strike as Paulinho looks on and smiles

Opener: Thiago Silva bundles the ball in at the back post to give Brazil the lead against Colombia in Fortaleza

Back of the net! Thiago Silva and Colombia goalkeeper David Opsina look on as Brazil take the lead

Proud moment: Brazil defenderThiago Silva beat his chest after giving his country the lead after seven minutes

Passionate: David Luiz screams at the crowd following Brazil's opener at the Castelao Arena

Pandemonium: Brazil fans celebrate wildly as the players gather following Silva's goal for the host nation

From the spot: James Rodriguez rolls his penalty into the back of the net to give Colombia hope

Down: Neymar lies on the floor in pain and holds his back

Worry: Brazil's star man had to be carried off on a stretcher with three minutes of the game to play

Brazil and Columbia fans reactions to quarter final goals

MATCH FACTS

Brazil: Julio Cesar, 6.5, Maicon, 6.5, Thiago Silva, 7, Luiz, 8, Marcelo, 6.5, Fernandinho, 6.5, Paulinho, 6.5 (Hernanes, 86), Oscar, 5.5, Neymar, 7 (Henrique, 88), Hulk, 5.5 (Ramires, 83) Fred, 6.
Subs not used: Jefferson, Dani Alves, Dante, Maxwell, Willian, Bernard, Jo, Victor.
Scorer: Thiago Silva, 7, David Luiz, 68.
Booked: Julio Cesar, Thiago Silva.
Manager: Luiz Felipe Scolari, 7.5.
Colombia: Ospina, 7.5, Zuniga, 6, Zapata, 6, Yepes, 6, Armero, 6.5, Guarin, 6.5, Sanchez, 5.5, Cuadrado, 5.5, (Quintero, 80), Rodriguez, 6.5, Ibarbo, 5 (Ramos, 45, 6), Gutierrez, 5.5, (Bacca, 70)
Subs not used: Vargas, Arias, Carbonero, Aguilar, Mejia, Balanta, Bacca, Martinez, Valdes, Mondragon.
Scorer: Rodriguez (pen), 80.
Booked: Rodriguez, Yepes.
Manager: Jose Pekerman, 6.5.
M-O-M: David Luiz
Attendance: 60,342.
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain), 5.5.

The fears and anxieties of 200 million people are soothed for the time being. Colombia have added rhythm and flair to this tournament but could not overcome the collective will inside Fortaleza’s Castelao Stadium, a collective will which at times, it has to be said, seemed to include the officials.

Before the game, Colombian fans suspected they would not be allowed to win; a feeling reinforced when they had a goal by Mario Yepes controversially ruled out for offside when 1-0 down. No-one was off when Yepes shot, but there was a marginal call earlier in the sequence which unfolded from a free-kick.

Referee Carlos Velasco Carballo could not avoid awarding them a penalty, however, when Julio Cesar completely wiped-out substitute Carlos Bacca and James Rodriguez scored, his sixth of the World Cup.

It made for a tense finish. Brazil clung on, although not without collateral damage. Silva is out of the semi-final against Germany after a yellow card and Neymar was carried off late in the game after falling awkwardly.

As it is, Colombia’s 23-year winless run against their neighbours goes on, and so does Brazil’s Samba beat. Scolari’s players collapsed at the final whistle and raised their hands to the sky. They must be on the brink of nervous exhaustion but into the semi-finals they go.

That it should be Silva who struck first was a sweet twist in the narrative of the campaign. He caught Carlos Sanchez napping at the back post to turn in with his left knee a corner won and delivered by Neymar.

Less than seven minutes were gone and Brazil had the nerve-settler of an early lead but, just as they in the previous round against Chile, they were unable to make it count. Nerves would still be in shreds by the final whistle.

Making a point: David Luiz and Dani Alves console a tearful James Rodriguez at the full-time whistle

Commiserations: David Luiz puts his arm around Rodriguez as Marcelo also consoles the Colombia wideman

Disallowed: Mario Yepes put the ball in the net for Colombia but the strike was ruled out by the referee

Not impressed: Mario Yepes and fellow Colombia defender Pablo Armero scream at the referee's decision

Tough tackler: Fernandinho and fellow midfielder Fredy Guarin both slide to challenge for the ball

High foot: Fernandinho attempts to rob the ball from the boot of Colombia's James Rodriguez

Late: James Rodriguez goes flying following Fernandinho's challenge but the Brazilian protests his innocence

Still, after a week of questions, it was impossible not to share Silva’s relief. Off he ran to the opposite corner flag, beating his chest, soon to be mobbed by delirious team-mates as the roof lifted off the Castelao, freed by a rapid response to a week of debate in Brazil, when some claimed he should be stripped of the captaincy.

Emotions had got the better of him in against Chile and his ability to focus was questioned but here his mind was clear. He intercepted a cross and twice hurled his body in the line of shots from Juan Cuadrado.

When Rodriguez slipped Fernandinho and Colombia threatened to swamp Brazil in the first half, who was on the edge of the penalty area, winning back the ball? It was the captain. Silva was superb. As was Fernandinho.

Colombia’s greatest threat came from Rodriguez, drifting into spaces behind Teofilo Gutierrez and Brazil were without Luiz Gustavo, who was banned.

Agony: Neymar screams in pain on the floor after being fouled deep into the second-half

Up and over: The Colombia wall jumps in an attempt to stop Neymar's free-kick for Brazil

Head over heels: Neymar fails in his attempt to stop the ball from going out of play with his head

Painful: Neymar reacts after being challenged by Colombia midfielder Carlos Sanchez

Eyes wide shut: Brazil playmaker Oscar looks on as Victor Ibarbo climbs highest to head the ball on

Calm down, lads! Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo intervenes to stop an argument from ensuing

Aerial duel: Goalscorer Thiago Silva gets the better of Colombia frontman Victor Ibarbo in the air

On the march: Colombia frontman James Rodriguez marauds forward as three Brazilians watch on

 

Fernandinho started well, winning the ball and passing it well, both long and short. It was the Manchester City midfielder who unzipped Colombia and released Neymar to win the corner for the first goal.

He didn’t always have Rodriguez under control, although that is no disgrace. Few people in this tournament have contained him. Fernandinho did it well, and he was making crucial tackles deep in stoppage time.

At times, Referee Caballo was too lenient. Rodriguez was targeted, and then booked when he made his first foul, one which led the free-kick scored by Luiz from 30 yards.

Jose Pekerman’s side leave with credit. They refused to roll over after their early setback in a suffocating atmosphere with the game locked in a frantic tempo, pinging back and forth like table-tennis.

A break by Luiz summed everything up. Charging up-field the over-lapping centre-half seemed set on a slalom wonder-goal, only to lose the ball to Christian Zapata and hurtle back in pursuit of the full-back, head back, hair trailing, until he had landed a little physical contact after the ball had moved on. The crowd cheered but and the Colombia bench leapt to their feet in fury but the breathless game had moved on.

Luiz is incredibly popular and will probably be captain on Tuesday in Silva’s absence, but he flexes between pure majesty and total liability. Where he goes, chaos usually follows, but what a free-kick he fired into the top corner to settle the game.

Hanging on: Colombia defender Mario Yepes puts his arms around Brazil frontman Fred in the area

Bend it like Rodriguez: The Colombia winger curls a free-kick towards goal but Neymar jumps in the way to block

Tussle: Brazil frontman Hulk and Colombia wideman Juan Cuadrado do battle for the ball out wide

Strong: Brazil defender David Luiz charges past Colombia centre back Mario Yepes

Hanging in the air: Neymar brings the ball down under control during the first-half of Friday's clash

Talking tactics: David Luiz whispers behind his hand to former Chelsea team-mate Oscar

Thumbs up: Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari acknowledges one of his players from the touchline

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