Radamel Falcao’s absence was hardly felt as goals from Pablo Armero, Teófilo Gutiérrez and James Rodriguez gave Colombia a comfortable 3-0 win over Greece in Belo-Horizonte at the ongoing FIFA World Cup.

Armero put Colombia ahead after just fivr minutes, reaching a Juan Cuardrado cross with a scoffed shot which deflected off a Greek defender and trickled past Orestis Karnezis in the Greek goal, sparking a touchline celebration involving the entire Colombia team.

That blistering start petered out as the half wore on, with Colombia shooting well off target and Greece not creating goal opportunities at the other end.

Colombia would double their lead just before the hour mark when Abel Aguilar flicked a Rodriguez cornerkick to the far post where Teófilo Gutiérrez was on hand to slot home.

That sparked some life into the match and Theofanis Gekas should have pulled one back for the Greeks minutes later but could only steer his header to the crossbar when unmarked in Colombia’s six-yard area.

Substitute Kostas Mitroglu pulled a save from David Ospina as Greece searched for a goal. Instead, it was Colombia that got a third in added time as Rodriguez, who was involved in the build-up to the opening two goals, got his name on the scoresheet.

The 3-0 result is Colombia’s biggest win in a World Cup match and sends the South Americans top of Group C, ahead of the match between Cote D’Ivoire and Japan which kicks off 3a.m. (Nigerian time).