Colombia Start FIFA U-20 World Cup with Hard-Fought 1-0 Victory Over Saudi Arabia

TALCA, CHILE - Colombia's U-20 national team kicked off their FIFA U-20 World Cup campaign with a crucial 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in a closely contested Group F match at the Estadio Fiscal de Talca on Monday.

The only goal of the encounter came in the second half from the boot of the standout player, Óscar Perea, securing the vital three points for the South American side.

After a cagey first half that ended goalless, both teams returned with renewed energy, but it was Colombia who finally broke the deadlock. Perea found the net in the 64th minute following a brilliant piece of pressing play, slotting the ball home to give La Tricolor the advantage.

The goal was subject to a brief VAR review before being confirmed, much to the relief of the Colombian bench. Saudi Arabia pushed hard for an equalizer, and even had a goal chalked off by VAR for a marginal offside, but the Colombian defense held firm until the final whistle.

The hard-earned win sees Colombia jump to the top of Group F, setting a positive tone for their tournament ambitions. They will next face Norway, while Saudi Arabia will need to regroup quickly for their upcoming match against Nigeria to keep their qualification hopes alive.