Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo admits emotion of occasion weighed heavy on players

[p]Goals from Daniel Munoz, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/diaz-luis/SKjMUHVm/"]Luis ‌Diaz[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jaminton-campaz/0SowzmQl/"]Jaminton Campaz[/a] secured victory for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/colombia/G02s4PCS/"]Colombia[/a] in Mexico ‌City, moving them to the top of Group K after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/portugal/WvJrjFVN/"]Portugal[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/d-r-congo/phn9mm8H/"]‌DR Congo[/a] drew 1-1 earlier in the day.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lorenzo-nestor-gabriel/EHstnYWI/"]Lorenzo[/a]'s side dominated ‌long stretches of the match but were made to work harder than expected after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/uzbekistan/EZYKKRMc/"]Uzbekistan[/a] equalised before Diaz restored Colombia's lead and substitute Campaz scored ‌in added time.[/p][p][b]"It is a beautiful energy, but ⁠emotionally it weighed on some ‌of the players,"[/b] Lorenzo told reporters.[/p][p]"I think it had to do with ​the emotional burden of the first game and also with the responsibility of being (match) favourites."[/p][p]The Argentine manager said the ​atmosphere created by a largely Colombian crowd at the Azteca added to the occasion, while his team also struggled to maintain its ⁠first-half level after Uzbekistan ​began playing more directly after the break.[/p][p][b]"We had a very good first half,"[/b] Lorenzo said. [b]"Then they started playing a more direct game and forced us deeper. It became a very physical match."[/b][/p][image alt="Match stats" id="618de9de-2dc7-465f-b88b-cdcfb53d9c7f" credit-line="StatsPerform via Opta" guid="11033f25-96b3-4318-b2aa-b926654b85bd" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][h2]Weight of expectation[/h2][p]Despite ‌the comfortable scoreline, Lorenzo admitted Colombia should have put the game beyond doubt much earlier.[/p][p][b]"In the first half we could have built a bigger advantage,"[/b] he said. [b]"We lacked finishing. We keep working on that constantly."[/b][/p][p]Lorenzo said his players became overly focused on retaining possession instead of taking risks in attacking areas.[/p][p][b]"Sometimes there was too much possession and too much fear of losing the ball,"[/b] he said. [b]"Nobody was finishing the moves."[/b][/p][p]The coach was also asked about captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rodriguez-james/MPaioN57/"]‌James Rodriguez[/a], who struggled to impose himself against Uzbekistan's compact defensive ​shape.[/p][p][b]"It wasn't his best match, but he didn't have a ‌bad game,"[/b] Lorenzo said.[/p][p]"They closed the spaces where James usually operates. He wasn't the protagonist, but in possession he gave us a lot."[/p][p]Colombia next face DR Congo in Guadalajara as they seek to move closer to securing a place in ⁠the knockout stage and strengthen ⁠their grip on top spot ‌in Group K.[/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/colombia-G02s4PCS/uzbekistan-EZYKKRMc/?mid=jaMlPbx1"]Check out the match stats here[/a][/b].[/p]