World Cup 2018: Colombia win 3-0 to end Poland's last-16 hopes
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World Cup 2018: Poland 0-3 Colombia highlights
Radamel Falcao scored his first World Cup goal as Colombia got their tournament in Russia up and running with an impressive victory that ended a lacklustre Poland side's hopes of reaching the last 16.
Yerry Mina nodded in James Rodriguez's cross shortly before half-time to put the South Americans ahead.
Falcao then broke through in the second half before driving a low strike into the far corner and Juan Cuadrado capped off a fine team performance with an accomplished finish after racing on to James' sublime ball behind the Poland defence.
It was a much improved performance by Colombia following the disappointing 2-1 defeat by Japan in their Group H opener and will give their fans hope they can at least match their run to the quarter-finals in 2014.
In contrast, this was another disappointing display by Poland, who lost to Senegal in their group opener.
Robert Lewandowski, making his World Cup debut in Russia, struggled with a lack of service throughout, the Bayern Munich striker going closest in the final few minutes when a long-range effort was tipped over by David Ospina.
Poland cannot now catch either Japan or Senegal, who have four points from two games. Colombia have three points and play Senegal on Thursday knowing victory could secure top spot.
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Watch: Falcao scores his first World Cup goal & ends Poland hopesJames return sparks Colombia revival
It was four years ago to the day that Colombia thrashed Japan 4-1 to finish top of their group at the 2014 World Cup - a result that made many observers stand up and take notice of the South Americans as contenders.
They went on to reach the last eight in Brazil, with James scoring six goals to claim the Golden Boot, and in this victory both the team and the player were back to their best after some underwhelming performances over the course of the past four years.
Injury denied the Bayern Munich star a place in the first XI as Colombia lost their opening group game in Russia 2-1 to Japan but he returned to the starting line-up against Poland and provided the creativity his side so badly lacked in their previous outing.
He had the vision and technique to unlock a stubborn Poland defence just as a first half light on chances looked set to end goalless, clipping a pinpoint cross to Mina, who headed in from close range.
But his pass for Colombia's third was even better, taking out three defenders to find Cuadrado with a whipped pass from the left wing, allowing the former Chelsea forward to charge unchallenged into the Poland box before finishing neatly.
With six goals and four assists in his previous seven appearances for Colombia, James has been involved in more goals than any other player across the past two World Cups. If Colombia are to go far at a finals again then the 26-year-old maintaining this kind of form will be key.
A first since 1990 - the stats
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Poland are the first European nation to be eliminated from the 2018 World Cup.
Colombia have won three of their past five World Cup meetings with European sides (W3 D0 L2), having won none of their first five against Uefa nations (W0 D2 L3).
Colombia's victory means there has still been no goalless draw after 32 matches so far at the 2018 World Cup, the longest wait from the start of a tournament without one (no 0-0s in 26 games in the entire 1954 tournament).
Three of Yerry Mina's four goals for Colombia have been headers.
James Rodriguez has been involved in 10 of Colombia's past 14 World Cup goals, with six goals and four assists.
He has had a hand in 10 goals in seven World Cup appearances (6 goals, 4 assists).
Juan Cuadrado has been involved in six goals in seven World Cup appearances for Colombia (2 goals, 4 assists). He scored his second World Cup goal on Sunday, exactly four years after netting his first (24 June 2014 vs Japan).
Radamel Falcao scored his 30th goal for Colombia and first at a World Cup. He is Colombia's all-time highest goalscorer.
Including Colombia's victory against Poland, there were 14 World Cup goals scored today - the most on a single day of action in the competition (maximum 3 games) since 10 June 1990 (also 14).
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Poland
1Szczesny
20Piszczek
5BednarekBooked at 61mins
2PazdanSubstituted forGlikat 80'minutes
18BereszynskiSubstituted forTeodorczykat 72'minutes
10Krychowiak
6GoralskiBooked at 85mins
13Rybus
19Zielinski
9Lewandowski
23KownackiSubstituted forGrosickiat 57'minutes
Substitutes
3Jedrzejczyk
4Cionek
7Milik
8Linetty
11Grosicki
12Bialkowski
14Teodorczyk
15Glik
16Blaszczykowski
17Peszko
21Kurzawa
22Fabianski
Colombia
1Ospina
4Arias
13Mina
23D Sánchez
17Mojica
8AguilarSubstituted forUribeat 32'minutes
5Barrios
11Ju Cuadrado
20QuinteroSubstituted forLermaat 73'minutes
10Rodríguez
9FalcaoSubstituted forBaccaat 78'minutes
Substitutes
2Zapata
3Murillo
7Bacca
12Vargas
14Muriel
15Uribe
16Lerma
18Díaz
19Borja
21Izquierdo
22Jo Cuadrado
Referee:
César Arturo Ramos Palazuelos
Attendance:
42,873
Match Stats
Home TeamPolandAway TeamColombia
Possession
Home45%
Away55%
Shots
Home9
Away13
Shots on Target
Home2
Away4
Corners
Home7
Away5
Fouls
Home15
Away10
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Poland 0, Colombia 3.
Full TimePosted at 90'+6'
Second Half ends, Poland 0, Colombia 3.
Posted at 90'+3'
Yerry Mina (Colombia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+3'
Foul by Robert Lewandowski (Poland).
Posted at 90'+2'
Wilmar Barrios (Colombia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+2'
Foul by Lukasz Teodorczyk (Poland).
Posted at 90'
Attempt blocked. Jefferson Lerma (Colombia) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at 88'
Corner, Poland. Conceded by David Ospina.
Posted at 88'
Attempt saved. Robert Lewandowski (Poland) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Lukasz Teodorczyk.
Posted at 86'
Foul by Yerry Mina (Colombia).
Posted at 86'
Robert Lewandowski (Poland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 85'
Attempt missed. James Rodríguez (Colombia) left footed shot from long range on the left misses to the left from a direct free kick.
BookingPosted at 85'
Jacek Goralski (Poland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 85'
James Rodríguez (Colombia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 85'
Foul by Jacek Goralski (Poland).
Posted at 84'
Attempt blocked. Mateus Uribe (Colombia) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked.
Posted at 83'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 82'
Delay in match David Ospina (Colombia) because of an injury.
Posted at 81'
Attempt blocked. Grzegorz Krychowiak (Poland) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is blocked.
Posted at 81'
Attempt blocked. Lukasz Teodorczyk (Poland) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kamil Grosicki with a cross.
SubstitutionPosted at 80'
Substitution, Poland. Kamil Glik replaces Michal Pazdan.
Posted at 80'
Corner, Poland. Conceded by Davinson Sánchez.
Posted at 79'
Foul by Mateus Uribe (Colombia).
Posted at 79'
Grzegorz Krychowiak (Poland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 79'
Foul by Carlos Bacca (Colombia).
Posted at 79'
Piotr Zielinski (Poland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
SubstitutionPosted at 78'
Substitution, Colombia. Carlos Bacca replaces Radamel Falcao.
Goal!Posted at 75'
Goal! Poland 0, Colombia 3. Juan Cuadrado (Colombia) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by James Rodríguez with a through ball following a fast break.
Posted at 74'
Attempt missed. Piotr Zielinski (Poland) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
SubstitutionPosted at 73'
Substitution, Colombia. Jefferson Lerma replaces Juan Quintero.
SubstitutionPosted at 72'
Substitution, Poland. Lukasz Teodorczyk replaces Bartosz Bereszynski.
Goal!Posted at 70'
Goal! Poland 0, Colombia 2. Radamel Falcao (Colombia) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Juan Quintero with a through ball.
Posted at 67'
Foul by Wilmar Barrios (Colombia).
Posted at 67'
Jacek Goralski (Poland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 67'
Radamel Falcao (Colombia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 67'
Foul by Jan Bednarek (Poland).
Posted at 66'
Attempt blocked. Robert Lewandowski (Poland) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lukasz Piszczek.
Posted at 64'
Juan Cuadrado (Colombia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 64'
Foul by Maciej Rybus (Poland).
Posted at 64'
Yerry Mina (Colombia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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goal
Source: bbc.com
Source: bbc.com
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