MEXICO CITY, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Colombia manager Nestor Lorenzo admitted his team was below its best in a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan in their World Cup opener on Wednesday.
Daniel Munoz's first-half strike and second-half goals from Luis Diaz and Jaminton Campaz sealed victory at Mexico City Stadium, moving Colombia to the top of Group K.
"In the first half we could have built a bigger advantage," Lorenzo told a post-match news conference. "We lacked finishing. Sometimes there was too much possession and too much fear of losing the ball. Nobody was finishing the moves."
Most of the 80,000 fans present at the stadium were clad in Colombia's national team colors, with many singing and cheering throughout the 90 minutes.
It created an atmosphere that both helped and hindered Colombia's players, Lorenzo said.
"It is a beautiful energy, but emotionally it weighed on some of the players," Lorenzo told reporters. "I think it had to do with the emotional burden of the first game and also with the responsibility of being favorites."
He defended captain James Rodriguez, who struggled to make an impact and was substituted in the 72nd minute.
"It wasn't his best match, but he didn't have a bad game," Lorenzo said. "They closed the spaces where James usually operates. He wasn't the protagonist, but in possession he gave us a lot."
Colombia's next match is against DR Congo in Guadalajara next Tuesday. ■
