Diaz – who started with the captain's armband with James Rodriguez on the bench – was joined on the scoresheet by Galatasaray's Davinson Sanchez and Sporting CP's Luis Suarez.

The Bayern Munich winger saw his pinpoint corner glanced off the far post and in by Sanchez for Colombia's 17th-minute opener, then scored his own goal six minutes later.

After Costa Rica played itself into trouble at the back, Darril Araya's attempted clearance ricocheted off Jorge Carrascal and fell to Diaz, who smartly sat Aaron Salazar down before finishing. 

Costa Rica got one back through Andrey Soto just after the half-hour mark, as he nodded beyond the helpless Camilo Vargas following Josimar Alcocer's header back across goal.

But Colombia continued to do most of the attacking, with Carrascal going close before he was replaced by James at half-time, with the 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner assuming the armband.

James teed up the clinching goal nine minutes from time, with his pass down the left-hand channel finding Suarez, who lashed into the far corner to make certain of the win.