Brazil's David Luiz (4) gestures at Colombia's James Rodriguez (10)
Brazil's David Luiz (4) gestures at Colombia's James Rodriguez (10) as he tells the spectators to applaud him after their 2014 World Cup quarter-finals at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza July 4, 2014. REUTERS

The 2014 FIFA World Cup is slowly shaping up to be a dream tournament for the home team as they come one step closer to lifting the Cup by taking out continental rivals Colombia in the quarterfinals. The 2-1 victory came off a very physical fight which leaves the hosts sans their wonder boy Neymar Jr. for the semi-final against Germany.

Brazil 2-1 Colombia

(T. Silva 7', David Luiz 69') (James 80' PEN)

Just like the first quarterfinal match between Germany and France, the opening goal came early in the clash in Fortaleza. Thiago Silva found the back of the net in the 7th minute and Brazil never looked back from there.

Brazil have had mediocre performances thus far in the tournament and have failed to win impressively on their way to the quarterfinals while Colombia have been consistently strong. The home team have a head-to-head historical advantage but if the results in this World Cup are any indication, an upset is always a looming possibility.

The hosts finally brought out the big guns and showed what they are capable of by scoring early and playing aggressive football to deny the Colombians a chance to equalise. Brazilian Captain Silva not only scored the opening goal from a Neymar corner but he also almost single-handedly stopped several Colombian attempts.

Brazil played aggressively and the score would have been more had it not been for the heroics of Colombian goal keeper David Ospina.

Another Brazilian defender, David Luiz who has just been signed by PSG, was the architect of the hosts' second and game winning goal. A free-kick from 35-yards out was sent by Luiz over the wall and into the net in a swift clean kick that left Ospina with no hope of saving.

Colombia won a penalty after Julio Cesar tackled Carlos Bacca and James Rodriguez took care of business to score for Colombia. With only 10 minutes left, the Colombians scrambled for a chance to push for extra time but the hosts had it in the bag. The Colombians are out and Brazil will be facing Germany, the final hurdle to the dream final they are hoping to play and win at the Maracana.

In a tragic twist of events though, Brazil will be left to play the rest of the World Cup without Neymar. The star striker has been ruled out of the tournament after having been stretchered out of the game with a fractured vertebra.