Luis Diaz overshadowed by former Everton flop in Colombia's Copa America win

The last time Luis Diaz stepped onto the field for a Copa America group stage game, he notched a stunning acrobatic volley against continental giants Brazil after just 10 minutes.

The star Liverpool winger provided a less fabulous debut to the 2024 edition, however, squandering a pair of second-half scoring opportunities as former Merseyside star James Rodriguez stole the headlines in Colombia's 2-1 escape from Paraguay on Monday.

Diaz began the match with a brilliant piece of skill along the end line to create an early Colombian opportunity. The left winger spun away from his defender toward the corner flag and carved out enough space between two Paraguayan players to fire a cross toward the back post in the seventh minute, but Daniel Munoz's header failed to generate enough power and trickled out harmlessly for a goal kick.

READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Adrien Rabiot 'contact', Xavi Simons hint, Joshua Kimmich race
READ MORE: Liverpool target Yankuba Minteh 'agrees personal terms' as agent provides transfer update

The 2022 Liverpool signee's bright start dimmed thereafter, as he completed just three of seven first-half passes and completed just the one successful dribble. It was Rodriguez, who left Everton in 2021 after a lone underwhelming season, that stepped into the spotlight for Los Cafeteros, however, as his well-placed crosses helped Colombia take a 2-0 lead into the locker room.

A brilliant feint just outside the 18-yard box allowed Rodrguiez space on his preferred left foot, picking out Munoz again at the back post, who converted this time with a header driven low at the near post. Colombia doubled its advantage just 10 minutes later, as current Premier League star Jefferson Lerma nestled Rodriguez's free-kick inside the far post with a glancing header.

Diaz found himself with a chance to open his Copa America goal account as the second half began. Another set-piece delivery from Rodriguez was cleared as far as Diaz, lurking atop the penalty area, but the Liverpool winger sliced his volley attempt over the Paraguay net by a few feet.

Paraguay would halve the deficit in the 69th minute, stoking palpable tension among the overwhelmingly Colombian crowd in Houston, and the ensuing open-ended play left Diaz with a pair of golden opportunities for a goal contribution. Diaz drove at the Paraguayan defense in transition with a quarter-hour remaining, providing a well-weighted layoff to Rodriguez on an overlapping run. The attacking midfielder found himself unmarked just outside the six-yard box, but elected to square the ball and squander the opportunity.

Diaz looked to ice the game himself a minute later, as a brilliant shot fake freed him for a shot on target from a similar distance. The young winger never truly found his balance, however, and fired a powerful strike into the side netting.

Overall, Diaz was much more impactful in the second half with 10 completed passes, including a few line-breaking movements he struggled to find in the first 45 minutes, and another completed dribble.

Despite totaling just 0.63 expected goals on the evening, fewer than their Paraguayan counterparts, Colombia held off a late scare from La Albirroja and began its Copa America journey with three points. Diaz and Colombia return to action against Costa Rica on Friday, with the game available at 6 p.m ET on FS1.