Colombia salvage late point vs. Mexico behind Montoya's golazo

Mexico and Colombia were both left waiting for their first-ever wins at a Women's World Cup, settling for a 1-1 draw in Moncton on Tuesday night.

Veronica Perez got Mexico on the board early in the tournament's first use of goal-line technology but Daniela Montoya equalized with a rocket late to give Las Cafeteras a share of the points. But the game was marred by erratic refereeing and El Tri will surely be aggrieved as Charlyn Corral had a perfectly good late winner erased by a frankly inexplicable call.

"It’s a draw that feels a bit like a defeat," Mexico coach Leonardo Cuellar said, according to the FIFA website. "We had the situation under control in the first half but lost our way in the second, when Colombia were able to impose their game on us. If my players had been able to reproduce what they’ve been doing in training, the match would have turned out differently."

Both teams have been on the rise over the past few years. Colombia ended up as the only unbeaten side during South American qualification though draws against Brazil and Argentina relegated them to runners-up status in the Copa Femenino. Mexico have steadily refreshed their program thanks to a lot of cross-border talent, and while they had an erratic trip into the Women's World Cup, rallying to win a showdown with Trinidad and Tobago, they have more talent and power than in years past.

Of course, some of these skills were difficult to showcase on the rain-slicked Moncton turf. Strange as it may sound, Moncton's grass field was actually removed for this tournament for FieldTurf, and on the day, it notably affected the quality of play, with passes skimming and skittering along like billiard balls on slate.

Mexico seemed well in control from the early going, testing Colombian keeper Stefany Castano with high balls across the face of her net. Corral showed off Mexico's game plan in the 6th minute with a darting run that forced Las Cafeteras to scramble clear for the first of a half-dozen corner kicks.

Colombia did have chances, looking for feet on the break, and in fact had the ball in the net early. But Yoreli Rincon was correctly ruled offside. Rincon had another peach of a chance twenty minutes in when Lady Andrade lofted in a high cross that Rincon beat everyone too, but she could not get her header on frame.

Slowly, Mexico started to make their possession pay and when Mexico started to pump balls into the box in rapid succession, Castano cracked. First, she needlessly gave away a corner on a ball that would have been easier to catch; then parried another into touch due to nerves. The third time was the charm as Perez simply crossed the ball from the near side into the net, which Castano tamely tapped onto her bar and in.

Colombia made a better fight of in the second half and were victimized by some poor refereeing as well. Montoya was incorrectly whistled on a breakaway for a handball (it came off her face) and then was shown a yellow card for firing the ball into the net. Rincon would skate a free kick back out off Cecelia Santiago's far upright corner after the keeper misplayed the ball just shy of the hour mark.

Mexico will rue their wastefulness. They had a golden opportunity to ice the game in the 75th minute when Renae Cuellar was fed a beautiful ball on the endline by Stephany Mayor, but with the keeper beaten, she could not turn the ball in at the near post.

And then, Colombia finally grabbed their chance. Sub Tatiana Ariza found herself atop the box but against a wall of Mexican defenders and smartly tapped the ball back out to a waiting Montoya. She ripped one of the goals of the tournament to the top corner with Santiago helpless, and put her name into the history books -- her strike was also Colombia's first-ever Women's World Cup goal.

"That was a great moment for Colombian football," Colombia coach Fabian Taborda said, according to the FIFA website. "The team kept their shape and managed to play their game. We knew that the match would be difficult, because the Mexicans never give up. I was so disappointed when they made it 1-0, because I know how tough it is to score against us."

Things will not get any easier for these two teams. Colombia next face tourney favorites France on Saturday while Mexico face a wounded England side that likely must win to stay alive. The World Cup takes a day off on Wednesday but resumes Thursday with a powerhouse clash between Germany and Norway that highlight of a four game showcase.