Just like Germany yesterday, Los Cafeteros in need of a win started the match excruciatingly slow and lacked the urgency with which they should’ve come into this fixture.
In fact, they spent the better part of the opening 45 minutes in their own half with Senegal making soft attempts at goal. The loss of James Rodriguez appeared to make matters worse. Colombia was lucky to head into the break on level terms, but returned stronger from it.
Suddenly, there was more movement upfront and Colombia upped the tempo with quick, slick passes around the box. Cuadrado who was largely anonymous in the first-half, was a player reinvigorated, getting into the pockets of space on the flanks.
Muriel, who replaced Rodriguez, may not have inspired the creative juices that the Bayern star would have, but did trouble the Senegalese back-line with his dribbles and almost found the breakthrough early on had it not been for N’Diaye’s desperate clearance.
Though clear cut chances were still at a premium – Colombia had just two shots on target in the game – their high press appeared to wear the Africans down, who resorted to cheap fouls and conceded a couple of corners and free-kicks.
Senegal’s attempt to play only for a draw backfired
The Lions of Teranga had a win and draw in their bag from the first two games, and needed just another point here to ensure a last 16 berth.
They tried to get exactly that by sitting back and trying to break forward only on counters especially in the second-half, whilst their initial attempts at goal were hopelessly futile.
The likes of Niang, Keita and Sarr tried to ruffle a few feathers by cutting in from the flanks, but the ease with which the Colombian back-line cleared the lines was borderline amusing. Senegal thought they had won a penalty after Sadio Mane was brought down inside the box, but a VAR review dismissed the calls as Davinson Sanchez got to the ball first and cleared it.
Senegal continued to cut a lethargic figure after the break, and virtually stopped playing after realizing Poland had gone ahead in the other game. They tried to play for a draw here as it would’ve sent both these sides into the next round. But Colombia weren’t satisfied and Senegal should’ve tried to score on realising the men in yellow were trying for the same.
Senegal paid the price as they fell behind, and their late attempts to draw parity was really late. Sarr compounded their misery when he shanked an effort completely wide after collecting a beautiful ball in from Mane.
The desperation was clear when they pushed bodies forward in the dying embers, but just couldn’t find a pass to create the final chance. If only Senegal made attempts earlier on when the game was finely poised.
Yerry Mina’s penchant to pop up with the headers
Colombia seem to have found their own version of Sergio Ramos. Having ignited the Poland routing with a header from close range, Yerry Mina followed it up with another intervention from a set-piece when he raced forward and leapt the highest to meet the corner kick played in by Quintero. The ball took a bounce before crashing into the roof of the net and beyond the despairing dive of N’Diaye.
Colombia’s efforts finally came to fruition as Mina was once again decisive in the air. The Barcelona centre-back has looked out of sorts since he moved to the Catalan capital, but his importance to the Colombian side continues to grow.
This was his 5th goal for the national team (in just 13 caps), and incredibly four of them have been headers! Mina has become an unlikely asset for Los Cafeteros in set-piece situations, and leaving him unchallenged in the box can be really dangerous. He certainly will be useful during such events in the knockouts.
