Colombia stunned Spain in the quarterfinals in Talca, led by an 18-year-old who played like a man possessed. The Tricolor found its new legend in Neyser Villareal, the young forward who tore apart Spain’s defense with a brilliant hat-trick — a performance that ended Spain’s dreams of reaching the FIFA U-20 World Cup final in Chile.
At just 18, Villareal has already played in Colombia’s first division — sharing the pitch with Radamel Falcao — and idolizes Neymar, whose flair and creativity have deeply influenced his style. Born in Tumaco, on Colombia’s Pacific coast, Neyser now stands at the center of the football world’s attention.
SURVIVAL MODE
Villareal is now joint top scorer of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, alongside the United States’ Benjamin Cremaschi, both with five goals. Two of Neyser’s goals came in the Round of 16 against South Africa, while the other three arrived tonight — the hat-trick that sent Colombia into the semi-finals. Cremaschi, on the other hand, scored three goals against New Caledonia and two against Italy in the Round of 16. From the very first whistle, Colombia played with fierce determination — a team in survival mode. The first half saw chances at both ends, but Colombia looked sharper. In the 38th minute, Villareal opened the scoring with a composed finish, giving Colombia the lead at halftime.
REMONTADA
Spain fought back in the second half, scoring two quick goals in the space of just three minutes. But Villareal refused to give in. In the 64th minute, he struck again, leveling the match and reigniting Colombian belief. Then, with the clock ticking down, he completed his hat-trick — and Colombia’s comeback — in the 89th minute, just before full-time. One shot, one moment, and an entire nation erupted in joy.
With this victory, Colombia secured a place in the semi-finals — their first since 2003, when the tournament was held in the UAE. After the match, a smiling Villareal spoke to AIPS, his voice filled with pride and determination.
“We are so happy to make history. But the real history will be made when we take the cup back to Colombia, to our people,” said Neyser Villareal. “This is something we’ve been working toward for years. It has not been easy, but we know the team we have.”
His words echoed the spirit of a generation unafraid to dream big.
NEXT CHALLENGE
Colombia’s next opponent will be Argentina — a clash steeped in history. It will be the third time the two nations meet in a FIFA U-20 World Cup. Their last encounters came in 2005, when Argentina beat Colombia 2–1 in the Round of 16, and in 2003, when Colombia triumphed 1–0 in the third-place match.
This time, Neyser Villareal and his Tricolor teammates are ready to write a new chapter — one goal, one dream, and one nation at a time.
2017 AIPS Association Internationale De La Presse Sportive.
