BARRANQUILLA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Luis Muriel scored a first-half brace as Colombia made a winning start to their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 3-0 win over Venezuela here on Friday.
Duvan Zapata put the hosts ahead in the 16th minute at Estadio Metropolitano with a lunging effort after Juan Cuadrado's driving run and perfectly weighted cross from the right.
Zapata's Atalanta teammate Luis Muriel then coolly slotted home from 10 yards after Johan Mojica found him unmarked in the box.
Muriel made it 3-0 by thumping a shot past goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez after taking possession in his own half and leaving Venezuela's defense in his wake with a rapid counterattack.
Colombia's victory was soured by a horrific ankle injury to right-back Santiago Arias. The 28-year-old was carried off on a stretcher while in acute pain after colliding with Darwin Marchis in an incident that left the Bayer Leverkusen player's left foot hanging at an unnatural angle.
Marchis was initially shown a red card before having it rescinded following a review by the video assistant referee. Enditem
