Luis Diaz scores twice in front of freed father as Colombia stun Brazil in World Cup qualifying

Luis Diaz scored twice for Colombia in a superb 2-1 World Cup qualifying victory over Brazil in front of his freed father.

Diaz’s brace overturned Gabriel Martinelli's fourth-minute opener to seal three points and send Colombia up to third in the South American standings, but these goals went beyond football.

The Liverpool winger was visibly overcome with emotion in his celebrations, with this brace coming only two days after his father – Luis Manuel Diaz – was freed by the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group.

The rebels had held him hostage for 12 days and also abducted his mother, Cilenis Marulanda, who was freed within a few hours.

Speaking after the match, Diaz said: "Life makes you strong and brave and I think that's football, and not just football but life.

"I'm grateful to my team-mates, to the coaching staff who were always there for me at every moment," he said.

"And I dedicate the victory to the people, who deserved it."

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson was playing between the sticks for Brazil on the night, and he paid tribute to his club team-mate.

"He is a friend. He suffered a lot these days," he said.

"This is beyond soccer. He deserves it."

Diaz had a similarly poignant moment scoring for Liverpool to rescue a 1-1 draw with Luton on November 5.

His stoppage-time header sealed a point at Kenilworth Road, and displayed a message on his T-Shirt pleading for his father's release in the aftermath of goal.

Speaking at the time, Klopp told Sky Sports: "It is wonderful he wanted to be here. That's it, for us a super-important goal and for him very important and emotional, but that's it.

“When he is on the pitch he is always involved in special things. We knew he would be a threat; we didn't know how long he would play because he only had a few sessions with the team.

“But that is not the most important part today. He scored the goal but we need to see some improvement in Colombia."

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