Colombia and Japan met in Brazil four years ago in the group stages too and that finished 4-1 to the Columbians back then with James Rodriguez getting one of their goals. The 2014 Golden Boot winner wasn’t fit enough to start this match though and he started on the bench, despite than Colombia were still favourites to win against a Japan side that have not been in great form at all recently.
It didn’t take long though for Japan to start causing an upset, after braking clear and making Colombian keeper to make a great save, the rebound shot was hit towards goal but Davinson Sánchez blocked the shot with his arm and was correctly sent off. Kagawa coverted the penaly but Colombia hit back from a dead ball situation themselves when Quintero cleverly hit his free-kick under the wall and into Eiji Kawashima’s goal. Japan got the winner though to take revenge from four years ago as Osako headed in from close range from a corner with seventeen minutes to go. The Japan fans inside the stadium went wild.
Colombia 1–2 Japan
Quintero Goal 39′
Kagawa Goal 6′ (pen.)
Osako Goal 73′
Next fixtures for Colombia vs Japan:
Sunday June 24th: Japan v Senegal (Group H) – Ekaterinburg, 4pm
Sunday June 24th: Poland v Colombia (Group H) – Kazan, 7pm
Poland vs Senegal and the Senegalese were certainly out to cause an upset from the very off as the took on the group favourites and eighth best team in the world according to FIFA. Senegal have only been to one previous tournament back in 2002 and they reach the quarter-finals of those finals and after a 2-1 win over Poland they’ll be eyeing up the knockout stages once again.
Senegal deserved the win as well and once Cionek deflected a Gueye shot passed his own keeper they never looked back. Poland huffed and puffed but had no real conviction and even struggled to create chance for Lewandowski. His best chance came when he took a direct free-kick but it was easily saved. Then the talking point, Niang went off after an injury and just as he was waved back on a minute later it just happen to coinside with an awful back pass from Poland, Niang came on, reacted first and got the ball to score his first ever internation goal.
Poland 1–2 Senegal
Krychowiak Goal 86′
Cionek Goal 37′ (o.g.)
Niang Goal 60′
Next fixtures for Poland vs Senegal:
Sunday June 24th: Poland v Colombia (Group H) – Kazan, 7pm
Sunday June 24th: Japan v Senegal (Group H) – Ekaterinburg, 4pm
Russia vs Egypt and the hosts turned in yet another great performance as the knocked a poor Egypt team out of the tournament after just two games. Mo Salah was back in the Egypt side and although he scored late on in the game it was mere consolation for his team and fans, who had a lot of hope coming into the tournament. It wasn’t to be though as their star man and Premier League player of the year failed to perform after his injury in the Champions League Final.
As for Russia, well they’re keeping their nation very happy and virtually became the first team to qualify for the next stage of the of the tournament after scoring eight goals in just two games now. After an early own-goal from Fathi, Cheryshev then scored his third goal of the World Cup finals when he drilled in a left-footed shot from just seven yards out. Dzyuba made it three when he brilliantly controlled a high ball with his chest before bringing it turn and smashing it into the corner and send the fans wild.
Russia 3–1 Egypt
Fathi Goal 47′ (o.g.)
Cheryshev Goal 59′
Dzyuba Goal 62′
Salah Goal 73′ (pen.)
Next fixtures for Russia vs Egypt:
Monday June 25th: Uruguay v Russia (Group A) – Samara, 3pm
Monday June 25th: Saudi Arabia v Egypt (Group A) – Volgograd, 3pm
