Cuadrado: Colombia's win in Copa America is a morale boost

Colombian player Juan Guillermo Cuadrado confirmed that it was important for his country to start the Copa America with a win, after beating Ecuador at dawn on Monday with a clean goal scored by Edwin Cardona.

Cardona scored the only goal for Los Cafeteros in the 42nd minute from a free kick in front of the Ecuador penalty area, where he exchanged the ball with Cuadrado, who passed it to Miguel Borja inside the area to prepare the ball with his head to the advanced Cardona, who shoots the ball from one touch hitting the ground and jumping into the net To the right of the guard.

Cuadrado said after the match: "It was important to start right away, it was a very difficult match in a difficult stadium. We did not have enough time to prepare well for the match because we did not have the right conditions to do so, but what we had in our thirst and desire to win enabled us to get the result and that's what matters." ".

The former player of both Chelsea and Fiorentina also highlighted what the team was able to achieve, despite the fact that Los Cafeteros coach Reinaldo Rueda made seven changes to the squad that drew 2-2 last Tuesday against Argentina in the South American qualifiers for the World Cup Qatar 2022.

In this regard, he said: "Despite all these many changes, the team has maintained its identity, and I think there are no substitutes here, all of us here are essential, and each of us goes to the pitch and wants to contribute and that is the most important thing."

For his part, Cardona, a Boca Juniors player, praised the efforts of the team that defeated the Ecuadorean opponent, who swept Colombia 6-1 in Quito last November, which led to the dismissal of Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz.

Cardona said: "Sometimes people want the team to always win, to put four or five goals in the opponent's net, and football is not like that. I think we should appreciate all the teams, especially those who came after a stage in which they achieved important things."

The player also stressed that Ecuador has a "great team", but the Colombia team excelled thanks to its "unity" and the "dedication" of its players to the fullest.