Colombia eliminate Senegal to hammer final nail into African coffin
Yerry Mina powered home a header fifteen minutes from time, a goal enough to see Colombia past Senegal in what proved a tense Group H battle.
The result sent Colombia through as group winners, while it eliminated Senegal in the most heartbreaking of circumstances – by yellow cards.
They accumulated more cautions (6) than Japan (4), meaning they finished below them and in 3rd place.
All other factors levelled out, with the two nations tied on four points, four goals scored and four conceded.
It kills the dream for Aliou Cisse’s men, and the African continent whose aspirations rode on the fate of Senegal, the final country remaining after the other four crashed out.
Egypt, Tunisia, Nigeria and Morocco all suffered the same outcome. The last 16 won’t contain an African side for the first time since 1982 – a grim statistic.
Senegal came so close, and performed well against Colombia, however lacked a clinical edge which orchestrated their downfall.
Japan lost to Poland in the other Group H match but it mattered little as the Senegalese couldn’t salvage a palpable reward in Samara.
Colombia toil to victory
Jose Pekerman’s Colombia looked to have turned a corner when they thrashed Poland to keep their qualification hopes alive.
That was a display similar to those in a sparkling 2014 competition. James Rodriguez was red-hot, the South Americans had a distinct cutting edge and their vibrancy was at its irresistible best.
They expected to follow on and build from the impressive win, but instead never got going.
Rodriguez went off injured in the first half, much to his frustration, and Senegal goalkeeper Khadim N’Diaye seldom made a stop.
Fortunately they had Mina, who managed his second goal in as many World Cup matches, to rescue them but it was hardly an exhibition to unsettle the remainder of the competition.
Colombia were poor, and need to make improvements for their last 16 game.
African aspirations shattered
It has been a tournament to forget for the whole of the African continent.
They went into the competition encouraged by a fresh crop of talent, not least in the Senegal side, however their dreams have been extinguished long before the business end of the tournament.
Tactically astute Herve Renard and Morocco were the first casualty, while Mohamed Salah and Egypt were quick to follow.
Belgium demolished Tunisia to eradicate their slim hopes of causing a Group G upset, and Nigeria endured heartbreak to slump out at the hands of Argentina.
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Senegal came closest, and two yellow cards proved the difference between them continuing their World Cup journey and going home.
They could have avoided the situation, though, with a better showing against Colombia. It wasn’t to be.