The forward from Tumaca had a historic performance against Spain: he scored the three goals in the 3-2 victory and led the U-20 team to its first World Cup semi-finals in 22 years.
Photo: EFE – Benjamín Hernández
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The Colombian U-20 team staged a memorable comeback in the 2025 World Cup in Chile. At the Fiscal Stadium in Talca, the team led by César Torres defeated Spain 3-2 and sealed its passage to the semifinals, reviving an illusion that the country had not experienced for more than two decades. The hero was Neiser Villarreal, author of a hat trick that will remain engraved in the recent history of Colombian youth football.
Colombia's goals vs. Spain in the U-20 World Cup
The match started at a high pace and with Spain dominating possession, but it was Colombia that struck first. At 43 minutes, a great combination between Óscar Perea and Jordan Barrera ended in a low cross to the heart of the area that Villarreal pushed with class. It was 1-0 and the reward for the effectiveness of a Tricolor that knew how to resist and hit at the right moment.
The start of the second half, however, was a shock of reality that came in the blink of an eye. In just three minutes, Spain turned the score around with two identical plays. First, Rayane Belaid equalized after a counterattack that caught the Colombian defense poorly, and then Barcelona's Jan Virgili made it 2-1 taking advantage of a similar inattention.
The Tricolor seemed disconnected, emotionally overwhelmed and without reaction. But then temper appeared. César Torres moved the bench and brought on Jhon Alexander Rentería, who changed the face of the team. In the 65th minute, the midfielder filtered a perfect pass into the area for Villarreal, who scored with precision to make it 2-2. That goal revived Colombia and unleashed the energy of a group that did not resign itself to being left out.
When the game seemed headed to overtime, the final blow came. In the 89th minute, a long ball from the back found Villarreal again, who imposed his power against the Spanish defender and finished in front of the goalkeeper with composure to seal the 3-2 score. Goal, comeback and classification. The Tumaqueño striker thus completed his hat trick and established himself as the great figure of the tournament for Colombia.
The triumph has a special flavor: 22 years later, Colombia once again eliminated Spain in a U-20 World Cup, the same rival that had left it out in 2003 with a goal from Andrés Iniesta. That generation, led by Reinaldo Rueda, achieved third place in the United Arab Emirates, the best performance in the history of the country. Today, this new breed has the opportunity to equal—or even surpass—that feat.
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