James Rodriguez scored in the 74th minute to give Colombia a 1-0 victory over Canada on Tuesday in an international football friendly.
The Real Madrid striker, who was the top goal scorer in this year’s World Cup, rescued the South American squad from a spirited display by the 120th-ranked team in the world.
It was Colombia’s second victory in five days after a 3-0 triumph over El Salvador on Friday at the same suburban New York pitch, home of Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls.
Radamel Falcao, a striker for Manchester United on loan from Monaco, was pulled in the 67th minute. His best scoring chance came early in the second half when he split two defenders but lofted a shot over the crossbar from atop the penalty area.
The match was the closer of an international friendly twin bill that opened with Ecuador defeating El Salvador 5-1.
Two goals each from Enner Valencia and Joao Plata powered Ecuador. Plata found the net in the 16th and 25th minutes while Valencia scored in the 18th and 73rd minutes and Cristian Penilla added the match’s final goal in the 83rd minute.
The only Salvadoran goal came off a penalty kick by Rafael Burgos in first-half stoppage time.
Elsehwere in the US on Tuesday night, Maynor Figueroa headed home the equaliser in the 86th minute to give Honduras a 1-1 draw with the United States in another friendly in Florida.
The 31-year-old Premier League standout for Hull City leaped between US defender Jermaine Jones and American goalkeeper Nick Rimando and nodded in the tying goal.
Jozy Altidore, a striker for Premier League side Sunderland, had put the Americans ahead with a goal in the 10th minute.
It was the second match in five days in which the US squad surrendered a late equaliser, with Enner Valencia scoring in the 88th minute for Ecuador in a 1-1 draw Friday at East Hartford, Connecticut, in the farewell match for US all-time scoring leader Landon Donovan.
Rimando nearly handed the lead away in the 22nd minute with a poor clearance but Honduran striker Andy Najar’s chip sailed over the net.
US coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s side will return to action at Ireland on November 18.
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