Crystal Palace have another World Cup knockout storyline to track after Jefferson Lerma helped Colombia seal top spot in Group K with a tense 0-0 draw against Portugal in Miami.
Lerma started in Colombia’s midfield before being replaced on the hour, while fellow Eagle Daniel Muñoz came on late as Nestor Lorenzo’s side protected the point they needed to finish above Portugal.
The Guardian’s live report recorded Colombia ending the group on seven points, with Portugal second on five and Colombia now set for a last-32 tie against Ghana.
Palace had already flagged Sunday, 28 June as the key final group-stage date for Lerma and Muñoz in their official World Cup numbers preview.
The result means both remain active deep into the tournament, extending Pierre Sage’s summer watchlist before Palace’s own European campaign begins.
Colombia Edge Toward Knockout Test With Palace Pair Involved
The wider performance carried more encouragement than the scoreline.
Colombia produced 24 shots, six on target and 1.63 xG, while Portugal were held to 0.69 xG from 13 efforts.
Davinson Sanchez also saw a late header ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside call.
For Palace, the key detail is workload as much as profile.
Lerma has now banked another high-pressure start against elite opposition, while Muñoz’s late involvement preserves his rhythm after his earlier scoring contribution against DR Congo.
Read Crystal Palace has already tracked how Palace’s World Cup goals have strengthened Steve Parish’s summer leverage, and Colombia’s progress adds another layer.
With Colombia moving into the knockout bracket, Palace’s South American pair have fresh momentum and another global-stage audition before returning to south London.
