Senegal 0-1 Colombia: Yerry Mina the hero as Lions of Teranga become first team ever knocked out of World Cup on fair play
- Colombia progress to knockout stage as Group H winners
- Japan finish second on fair play ruling
- Senegal have penalty decision overturned after VAR review
Senegal became the first team in World Cup history to fail to make it out their group due to the fair play ruling, as Colombia's 1-0 defeat of Aliou Cisse's side saw the South Americans through to the knockout stage as group winners, along with runners-up Japan.
Yerry Mina scored the all-important goal for Colombia, who lost influential playmaker James Rodriguez early in the match due to injury.
Senegal leave Russia despite finishing level on points, goal difference, goals scored and goals conceded with Japan, who progress to the last 16 as they finished the group stage with two yellow cards fewer than the African nation.
Just after the 10 minute mark, N'Diaye saved the first real opportunity of the match as Juan Quintero looked to curl a free-kick into the bottom far corner of his goal.
Senegal were looking bright on the attack, and they though they had won a penalty after 17 minutes when Davinson Sanchez appeared to down Sadio Mane in the area. The referee awarded a spot kick, but after a VAR review the decision was reversed, as it was clear Sanchez completed an inch-perfect tackle to win the ball; it was perhaps the finest tackle of the entire tournament.
Further chances for the Africans came without any real threat of actually finding the back of the net, and Colombia should have taken the lead midway through the half when Quintero curled in another fine free-kick, only for Radamel Falcao to head well clear of the crossbar.
Colombia were dealt a blow when James Rodriguez was forced out of the match with an injury after half an hour, and the South Americans seemed somewhat shell-shocked by losing their key playmaker. They offered little going forward for the remainder of the half, and Senegal really should have taken advantage of this situation.
Luis Muriel, who replaced the injured Rodriguez, started the second half in blistering fashion and was unlucky not to score, while Ismaila Sarr was posing a threat to the Colombian defence down Senegal's right flank.
Further chances fell to Quintero, Muriel and Cuadrado, before Colombia finally made their pressure count just over 15 minutes from time.
Some strong running from Cuadrado down the wing earned the South Americans a corner, and from the resultant delivery Mina jumped the highest and crashed a brilliant header past N'Diaye in the Senegal goal; N'Diaye did get a hand to the ball, and probably should have done better to keep the header out the back of his net.
Senegal ramped up the pressure as soon as Mina opened the scoring, with Niang and Mane both testing Ospina in Colombia's goal, before Sarr smashed a volley over the bar from just outside the six-yard box when he really should have hit the target.
Moussa Konate then missed the target with a header, Idrissa Gueye failed to test the keeper with a free-kick, and Senega's World Cup dream ended when the referee blew his whistle to signal Colombia's progress to the last 16 as group winners.
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STAR MAN
Not only did Yerry Mina score the goal which sent Colombia through as group winners, he was a rock at the heart of his team's defence for the entire match. Davinson Sanchez may have made the more noticeable impact in the defensive phase due to his brilliant challenge on Sadio Mane, but Mina was more consistent throughout the game.
The Barcelona centre-back, 23, has now scored in both of Colombia's last two matches at the World Cup, proving he is just as important in the opposition's box as in his own.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Davinson Sanchez's challenge on Sadio Mane was one of the finest moments of defensive play seen at the World Cup. He timed his tackle so perfectly to flick the ball away from Mane with the heel of his right foot, just when the Liverpool forward was going to have a free shot on goal.
The tackle was so last-ditch it looked like a penalty in real time, but VAR proved it was perfectly legal. Sanchez showed his quality in this action, to the very highest.
LINE-UPS
Senegal: Khadim N'Diaye, Gassama, Sane, Koulibaly, Sabaly (Wague 74'), Sarr, Kouyate, Gueye, Mane, Balde (Konate 80'), Niang (Sakho 86')
Subs not used: Diallo, Mbengue, Mbodji, Sow, Diouf, N'Doye, Alfred N'Diaye, Ndiaye, Gomis
Colombia: Ospina, Arias, Davinson Sanchez, Mina, Mojica, Uribe (Lerma 83'), Carlos Sanchez, Cuadrado, Quintero, Rodriguez (Muriel 31'), Falcao (Borja 89')
Subs not used: Vargas, Zapata, Murillo, Barrios, Bacca, Diaz, Izquierdo, Cuadrado
GROUP H TABLE
