Luis Diaz shares heartfelt hug with Liverpool team-mate Alisson after scoring twice against him for Colombia to beat Brazil, with winger starring in front of his emotional father following kidnap ordeal
- Diaz scored twice in front of his recently-released father on an emotional night
- The Liverpool star’s second-half headers gave Colombia victory over Brazil
- It’s a three-team title race… Toney could lead Arsenal to glory: It’s All Kicking Off
Liverpool stars Luis Diaz and Alisson Becker shared a touching moment after Colombia’s 2-1 comeback victory against Brazil in World Cup Qualifying.
Two goals second-half goals from Diaz gave the home side an impressive win on an emotionally charged night at the Estadio Metropolitano.
Diaz’s father, who had been reunited with his son two days ago following 12-day ordeal with his abductors last week, was in attendance.
The 26-year-old’s mother, Cilenis Marulanda was also in the stands after she had also been captured by armed men on motorcycles in the small town of Barrancas. Marulanda rescued within hours by police.
After the final whistle, Diaz’s team-mate Alisson heartily embraced his Anfield colleague despite seeing him breach his net on two occasions.
Luis Diaz shared a heartfelt hug with Liverpool team-mate Alisson after scoring past him to secure victory for Colombia against Brazil
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Diaz was the hero on the night, scoring two late goals for a World Cup qualifying victory
Diaz spoke of his admiration for his Reds team-mate after the game and revealed that Alisson had been a great source of support.
‘Alisson told me he’s very happy because he knows what we went through.’ He said. ‘He is a great person, I admire him a lot because off the field he is a great human being and he gave me all the support I could have to be calm in those difficult moments.’
The uncertainty that surrounded the safety of Diaz’s father would likely have hit the Brazilian stopper harder than most, following the tragic death of his own father in 2021.
Jose Agostinho Becker drowned in a lake on the family’s ranch near the town of Lavras do Sul, southern Brazil.
Alisson, who would speak to his dad every day, revealed last year that he was unable to attend his funeral and watched online amid the coronavirus pandemic.
‘I remember that the time he passed away was the height of the pandemic and I was unable to attend the funeral,’ he told UOL Esporte. ‘I participated online, it was my decision.’
On Thursday night, Colombia’s game in attack depended almost exclusively on Diaz.
The striker nearly scored after dribbling past several Brazilians in the 30th minute and was stopped by Alisson on two more dangerous shots in the second half.
Diaz equalized with an easy header in the 75th minute before sparking pandemonium with what turned out to the winner.
Luis Manuel Díaz was overwhelmed and fell to the floor after witnessing the winner, while he was mobbed by the euphoric fans around him in jubilant scenes.
Alisson said post-match: ‘He is a friend, he suffered a lot these days. This is beyond soccer. But we are leaving here in disappointment.’
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