World Cup, Group H, Poland vs Colombia as it happened: Stylish South Americans eliminate Poland
Poland started fast, but Colombia hit back and deserved their lead.
Poland 0 - 3 Colombia
40: Yerry Mina (Colombia)
70: Falcao (Colombia)
75: Juan Cuadrado (Colombia)
Preview: Poland confident of sending Colombia out of the World Cup. Read here.
Wrapping up: This win puts Colombia back on track, as the South Americans are a point behind Japan and Senegal. Los Cafeteros had 13 shots, but only 3 on target and all three resulted in goals.
Full-time and it ends 3-0 to Colombia.
Poland have been eliminated and Robert Lewandowski and co will be disappointed. Yerry Mina, Radamel Falcao and Juan Cuadrado with the goals for Los Cafeteros, who are back on track after the opening day disappointment against Japan.
90+2’: Poland are heading home. 3-0 Colombia.
The result is a fair one, and the South Americans have been vastly superior over the 90.
89’: Lewandowski with a venomous shot. 3-0 Colombia.
The Polish hit-man takes a shot but Ospina is up for it. Too little, too late.
84’: Uribe’s back-heel almost goes in. 3-0 Colombia.
James Rodriguez passes it to Uribe who tries to put it in quite cheekily but his effort is cleared off the line. Last World Cup’s Golden Boot winner has pulled the strings magnificently tonight.
81’: Poland with their final sub. 3-0 Colombia.
Krychowiak has a shot three yards out but a last-ditch block denies him and Poland a consolation. Glik replaces Pazdan as Ospina is on the ground once again.
75’: GOAALLL!!! Cuadrado scores Colombia’s third. 3-0.
James Rodriguez receives the ball on the left, and plays a lovely ball across to Juan Cuadrado. The weight on the ball is superb, and all Cuadrado has to do is to slide it home. Falcao goes off to be replaced by Carlos Bacca.
73’: Substitution for both sides. 2-0 Colombia.
Quintero the assist maker makes way for Lerma as Teodorczyk replaces Bereszynski for Poland.
70’:GOL GOL GOL GOL! Falcao scores. 2-0 Colombia.
A Quintero pass slices Poland wide open as Falcao latches onto it, and expertly finishes it. He has his 30th international goal and the two teams are Poles apart.
66’: Poland have a throw-in. 1-0 Colombia.
The Poles have failed to score in six of their last seven defeats and truth be told, they have been second best tonight.
Lionel Messi celebrated his 31st birthday while on Argentina duty. Let’s hope his team have at least got the cake right.
61’: Booking for Bednarek. 1-0 Colombia.
The Polish centre-back brings Uribe down and deservedly goes into the referee’s books. Not doing his team any favours there.
58’: Lewandowski through but unable to score. 1-0 Colombia.
The Polish number nine takes the ball down expertly in the penalty box but his shot is blocked by Ospina. Much more encouraging for the Europeans.
56’: Colombia break once again, lead 1-0.
Juan Quintero into some space, but his shot is blocked. Poland look light at the back but recover as Kownacki is replaced by Kamil Grosicki, who has 12 international goals.
52’: Falcao has a crack. 1-0 Colombia.
The ball reaches the upper tier as the Monaco forward puts it into orbit. Some lucky fan up there.
49’: Poland with another wasted corner. 1-0 Colombia.
Another set-piece goes begging. Didn’t even look like scoring there.
A famous night out in progress here:
46’: The second half is underway. 1-0 Colombia.
Colombia have clearly had an advantage in the statistics, with the South Americans enjoying 58% of the possession. Poland need to reverse the midfield battle, if they are to avoid elimination tonight.
Half-time and Colombia lead. 1-0.
Los Cafeteros weathered the initial storm and then hit back in style, as Adam Nawalka’s side have had no answer. Colombia have dominated for the last 30 minutes of the half as Poland have wilted.
45+2’: Poland have a corner. 1-0 Colombia.
They take it but Colombia clear it. The Polish set-pieces haven’t been the best this game.
40’: GOAALLL!!! IT WAS COMING!! 1-0 Colombia
Yerry Mina receives a beautifully weighted ball from James Rodriguez as the Barcelona defender jumped highest and headed it home. First shot on target from either side and it’s a goal.
36’: Cuadrado dances his way inside. 0-0.
Got the ball on the wing, shimmied his way past a couple of Polish defenders, reaching the touchline but the Europeans are saved by a timely intervention.
Some interesting quips on the commentary here:
32’: Colombia forced into early change. 0-0.
Abel Aguilar is injured and he will be replaced by Mateus Uribe. The Club America midfielder started his career in Argentina, and tried to pass off as the cousin of James Rodriguez, in order to watch a friend train at club Banfield.
27’: Momentum completely reversed. 0-0.
Poland started lightning fast but they have been pushed back by Colombia’s pace and route one approach. They will need to gather their short passing game if they are to stop this South American surge.
21’: Colombia almost broke through. 0-0.
James almost slides a ball in to Quintero, who can’t reach it. Dangerous build-up from Colombia, who push forward steadily.
17’: Distinct approaches from both teams. 0-0.
Poland have tried to press the Colombian back-line with their trio of attackers but Colombia have double-teamed Lewandowski. Los Cafeteros look like they have settled on Falcao as their main threat, and look to find him with their long balls. So far, Pekerman has been a slight second best.
13: Colombia settling in. 0-0.
After Poland’s fast start, the South Americans have got a foothold in the game. They will hope to draw inspiration from their magical run four years ago.
Meanwhile, Lewandowski produced a pinch of banter when the draws were announced.
9’: Colombia with their first attack. 0-0.
Szczesny gathers comfortably however. It has taken the South Americans nine minutes to foray forward, but the attack ends in a rather tame fashion.
5’: Ospina requiring early treatment here. 0-0.
This is not good news for Colombia. The keeper appeared to twist his ankle as he went for a catch. Jose Pekerman will pray that he is not forced into an early substitution.
3’: Poland applying early pressure. 0-0.
Robert Lewandowski running down the left, wins the first corner. Huge pressure on his shoulders, what can he do tonight?
1’: We have kick-off in Kazan, with Poland in white and red. Colombia opt for their alternate blue kit.
11:28 pm: Poland start in a 3-4-3 formation, spearheaded by Robert Lewandowski up front and flanked by Zelinski and Kownacki. Colombia line-up as a 4-4-1-1, with James Rodriguez on the left and Radamel Falcao as the sole striker.
11:22 pm: Alright, less than 10 minutes to go for kickoff now in Kazan. This is a potential knock-out for one of these two sides. The teams walk out to the Seven Nation Army. Time for the national anthems.
11:15 pm: Robert Lewandowski becomes his country’s fourth-most capped player in their history with 97 caps. He equals former captain and legendary midfielder Kazimierz Deyna, who led Poland to their best-ever finish of third at the 1974 World Cup.
11:10 pm: Colombia have won only 2 of 9 matches against European opposition at the World Cup. With Switzerland being vanquished in 1994, the next and only other win came over Greece in 2014.
This is how things stand in Group H. The loser, should this match have one, will be heading home. Huge stakes for both the favourites to progress pre-tournament.
11:05 pm: Two matches have been played at the Kazan Arena so far, resulting in an European victory. Australia were edged 1-2 by Australia while Spain pipped Iran 1-0. Good omens for Poland tonight.
11:00 pm: After hearing from a Colombian legend, we hear from a Polish one. Zbigniew Boniek, now the president of the Polish Football Association had this to say about their opener.
“Against Senegal we played bad. We were too schematical, easy to read, and our wings did not function at all. Definitely it was not our day. But we must forget it already and focus on Colombia. They are in the same situation. I do hope we will play much better than in the first game.”
Boniek also had his say on Lewandowski.
“Is there too much pressure on him? I don’t think so. There is always the biggest pressure on the stars. In Portugal it is about Ronaldo, in Argentina about Messi and in Poland about Lewandowski. We speak here about the player whom I consider to be the best No9 in the world. And the fact he did not score against Senegal? He can still score lots of goals here in Russia.”
10:55 pm: A Colombian has already held the 2018 World Cup in his hands, though it is one of their older boys. Legend, innovator, maverick and goal-keeper Rene Higuita is in Russia and here’s his take on David Ospina, the current number one:
“Like James and Falcao, Ospina forms part of the spine of the team. He’s good with his feet, though he doesn’t have to come out much or take too many risks because of the system. But when he’s had to come out, he’s done it. Look, if there’s a situation where you can control the ball and play it out, then that’s great, but there’s nothing wrong with sticking it in stands either. It’s all good.”
10:50 pm: The first meeting between these two sides in 1980 was also Poland coach Adam Nawalka’s last international appearance, which ended 4-1 in favour of the visitors in Bogota.
10:38 pm: This is the last game of the second round of fixtures and what a cracker it promises to be. World No. 8 Poland. 2014 quarter-finalists Colombia. One of those two teams are heading towards the exit door should they lose tonight. A draw doesn’t help either.
(As an aside: have you made your Fantasy team changes for the third round? You are welcome!)
10:28 pm: Alright folks, time to focus on this game at hand. Kazan is the venue. This is a massive, massive match for both sides. The lineups are in and James Rodriguez starts.
10:21 pm: It’s all over between Japan and Senegal at Ekaterinburg and it ends 2-2! What a match! Both teams deserve to go through this group. Imagine that. An Asian and African side advancing from a group with an European and South American side in it. Lovely.
10:18 pm: An interesting stat to warm you up: Colombia coach Jose Pekerman has never lost a game against European opponents while in charge of Colombia (since 2012). The most recent victory was over France in March 2018. He has five wins and two draws (six of them were friendly matches).
10:12 pm: An absolutely pulsating group game underway between Senegal and Japan, ebbing and flowing. It’s currently tied 2-2 with 5 mins left to play. Reminder: If it remains 2-2 in this match, defeat eliminates the loser of Poland vs Colombia – two of the pre-tournament favourites to advance.
10:10 pm: Hello and welcome to The Field’s live blog of the Group H encounter between Poland and Colombia. Two teams that, before the tournament began were favourites to head out of the group, are potentially fighting to avoid the ignominy of being the first to be eliminated. Lot of it will depend on the ongoing match between Senegal and Japan though, which you can follow here.