FIFA World Cup Qualifying: Colombia 1 Ecuador 0

Colombia became the second South American nation to qualify for the World Cup after a 1-0 victory against 10-man Ecuador in Barranquilla.

An early red card to Ecuador defender Gabriel Achilier changed the match with James Rodriguez scoring the only goal of the game for the hosts, finishing off Monaco teammate Radamel Falcao’s parried shot as Colombia joined Argentina as confirmed participants in Brazil 2014.

But Ecuador missed a golden opportunity to equalise in the second half with captain Walter Ayovi firing his penalty wide of the target.

It was a free-flowing contest early with Ecuador’s Jefferson Montero having the first meaningful effort on goal as he stung the palms of Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina from long range.

Falcao was gradually starting to work his way into the game and the France-based striker should have given Colombia the lead on 24 minutes when he headed Pablo Armero’s chip straight at Ecuador goalkeeper Maximo Banguera from close range.

The match-defining moment came in the 28th minute when Ecuador central defender Achilier was given a straight red for dragging down Teo Gutierrez as the Colombian streamed through on goal with just the goalkeeper to beat.

Colombia made their advantage count just two minutes later as Falcao’s long-range shot was parried by Banguera before Rodriguez rolled the ball into the net with the Ecuadorian shot-stopper sprawled on the ground.

There was a major delay in starting the second half with floodlight issues preventing play from resuming for 20 minutes as rain poured down.

With the man advantage, the Colombians dominated possession in the second-half but the away side had a golden opportunity to level the contest just after the hour mark.

After Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia was fouled in the penalty area, Ayovi stepped up to give Ecuador a chance at stealing a result but inexplicably curled his penalty wide with Colombia’s goalkeeper diving in the other direction.

Barely a minute later, Gutierrez should have doubled Colombia’s lead but somehow managed to chest the ball against the post from point-blank range, although it mattered little as the home side held on for victory.

With Argentina and Colombia safely through to next year’s showpiece event, Ecuador remain in third position, five points clear of the fifth-place play-off position currently occupied by Uruguay.