Colombia top group as Senegal eliminated in fair play rule first

Colombia 1 (Mina 74′)
Senegal 0

By Jacob Howard

Colombia has finished at the top of Group H in Samara with a goal by Yerry Mina late in the match enough to see the South Americans through to the round-of-16.

Match #48 | #SEN 0-1 #COL #SENCOL pic.twitter.com/ghULTVaUPZ

— FIFA World Cup ???? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 28, 2018

Senegal were desperate for a goal which would have seen the Africans progress through to the knockout stage, but instead they have become the first team to be eliminated from a World Cup by the fair play rule.

Senegal and Japan ended the group stage with the same points and the same for-and-against, but because Senegal had received more yellow cards throughout the tournament they were relegated to third place in the group behind Japan.

Senegal looked as if it had received the break it required when, in the 16th minute, forward Sadio Mane was brought down in a sliding tackle by Davinson Sanchez in the box and the referee pointed to the spot.

But VAR showed that Sanchez made contact with the ball before he collected Mane and the decision was overturned.

Neither side really looked dangerous in front of goal with just five shots on-target during the match.

But the game – and the scramble for group standings – came to life in the 74^th minute when Mina outjumped the Senegal defence to head home his second goal of the tournament.

Senegal had to chase the game in the final 20 minutes but never looked a threat to David Ospina’s goal.

Colombia might have claimed the victory but there are concerns over playmaker James Rodriguez who was taken from the field early in the game after being injured in a heavy challenge.

Coach Jose Pekerman said it is not clear whether Rodriguez will be fit for the round-of-16 clash against England.

”Extremely concerned,” the Colombian coach said after the match. ‘It’s a topic that could overshadow everything.”

Match Statistics

Possession
Colombia 60%
Senegal 40%

Shot attempts (on target)
Colombia 4 (2)
Senegal 8 (3)

Corners
Colombia 3
Senegal 1

Fouls
Colombia 15
Senegal 15

Yellow cards
Colombia 1
Senegal 1

Tackles
Colombia 11
Senegal 4

Team Line-ups

Colombia: 1 Ospina,4 Arias, 6 C Sánchez, 9 Falcao (89′), 10 J Rodriguez (31′), 11 JU Cuadrado, 13 Mina, 15 Uribe (83′), 17 Mojica, 20 Quintero, 23 D Sánchez.
Substitutes: 2 C. Zapata, 3 Murillo, 5 Barrios, 7 Bacca, 12 Vargas (GK), 14 Muriel (31′), 16 Lerma (83′), 18 Diaz, 19 Borja (89′), 21 Izquierdo, 22 JO. Cuadrado (GK), 8 Aguilar

Senegal: 16 K.Ndiaye (GK), 3 Koulibaly, 5 Gueye, 6 Sane, 8 Kouyate, 10 Mané, 12 Sabaly (74′), 18 Sarr, 19 Niang (86′), 20 Balde (80′), 21 Gassama.
Substitutes: 1 Diallo (GK), 2 Mbengue, 4 Mbodji, 7 Sow, 9 Diouf, 11 Ndoye, 13 A. Ndiaye, 14 Konate (80′), 15 Sakho (86′), 17 P.A. Ndiaye, 22 Wa