Yaser Asprilla came on for his senior tournament debut as Colombia made it ten straight international victories with a 3-0 win over Costa Rica in the Copa America last night.

The Hornets midfielder was an unused substitute in his nation’s 2-1 win over Paraguay in their first match at the tournament, but he replaced James Rodriguez with 19 minutes of normal time remaining with his team already three goals to the good and a place in the quarter-finals effectively confirmed.

It gave the 20-year-old his sixth international cap at senior level, but the previous five had come in friendlies.

It took the Colombians 31 minutes to make the breakthrough at State Farm Stadium, in Arizona, thanks to a penalty from Liverpool’s Luis Diaz after Jhon Cordoba had been fouled in the 18-yard box.

The advantage was doubled just before the hour when former Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez headed home a Jhon Arias corner, and a third soon followed when an inch-perfect Rodriguez pass was converted by Cordoba.

Colombia meet Brazil in their final Group D game at 2am UK time on Wednesday but with qualification assured, boss Nestor Lorenzo may decide to give Asprilla and others who have been on the bench a start in order to rest some of his regular starters for the knockout phase.