July 28, 2012

GLASGOW, Scotland – Kansas soccer sophomores Ingrid Vidal and Liana Salazar both played significant minutes Saturday, however the United States used a pair of second half goals to knock off Colombia, 3-0, in Group G play at Hampden Park at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Vidal, a sophomore forward at KU from Palmira, Colombia, earned her first start of the Olympics and played 76 minutes, while teammate Salazar, a sophomore midfielder from Botoga, Colombia, came off the bench for the final 20 minutes of play.

While Colombia gave the U.S. one of its most physical match-ups thus far, the Americans emerged victorious with goals from Megan Rapinoe, Abby Wambach and Carli Lloyd.

Colombia’s women’s soccer team is competing in its first Olympic Games this year, making its debut on Wednesday in a 2-0 loss to North Korea. Salazar started in Colombia’s first contest and played 76 minutes, while Vidal played 46 minutes in a reserve role.

Both players are veterans to soccer at the international level as Salazar and Vidal both played for the Colombian national team during the 2011 World Cup in Germany.

Saturday’s loss drops the Colombians to 0-2 in group play and pits them against France on Tuesday evening.