Jun 19, 2014 2 min read

SAO PAULO – Luis Suarez scored twice to give Uruguay a 2-1 victory over England at the World Cup Thursday, making an instant impact on his return from injury to revive his team’s Group D campaign.

The striker lashed in the winner in the 85th minute, after seeing his first-half opener canceled out by Wayne Rooney. The win gave Uruguay’s qualifying chances a major lift and left England’s hopes of advancing to the round of 16 in real jeopardy.

Suarez, who hadn’t played for more than a month after undergoing knee surgery, is the Uruguay player who knows this England side best, having played for Liverpool for more than three years.

And by taking his World Cup tally to five goals, Suarez ensured that Rooney’s first-ever goal on football’s biggest stage was in vain at his third tournament.

Rooney tapped the ball home from close range in the 75th minute after connecting with Glen Johnson’s pass. Having also lost against Italy, England now faces the prospect of not advancing from the group stage for the first time since 1958.

Colombia 2, Ivory Coast 1: Colombia moved to the verge of qualifying for the World Cup’s knockout stage, beating Ivory Coast 2-1 after scoring twice in a devastating six-minute spell in the second half.

Driven on by a partisan pro-Colombian crowd inside the Estadio Nacional, the South Americans went ahead through James Rodriguez’s powerful header from a corner in the 64th minute before substitute Juan Quintero added a second on a break following a defensive error.

Colombia held onto its lead, despite a brilliant 73rd-minute goal by Gervinho, for a second straight win in Group C. Colombia is almost assured of reaching the second round for the time in the country’s history. Since 1998, every team that has earned six points in the group stage has advanced.

Instead of Radamel Falcao, the brilliant Monaco striker who was ruled out through injury before the tournament, the most important factor in Colombia’s march through the group stage has arguably been its amazing support.

With supporters wearing yellow shirts dominating the stadium, it was effectively an away game for the Ivorians – who remain on three points after their 2-1 opening win over Japan.

“It was extraordinary,” Rodriguez said, “it was very much in our favor that Colombia could win.”