Colombia 1-2 Japan
It was billed as a spectacle of colour and emotion.
What we didn’t realise was that it would only take three minutes for this World Cup 2018 match to provide both in equal measure.
Picture the scene: you’ve travelled halfway around the world and inside three minutes your team are a goal and a man down.
Now read on.
Highlights of the game
The drama as Colombia’s Carlos Sanchez was sent off for handball (the second quickest dismissal in World Cup history) was just the start.
He initially refused to leave the fray and a significant delay followed before former Man United man Shinji Kagawa—whose goal-bound shot was blocked by Sanchez—converted the penalty for Japan and set the tone for the rest of the Group H encounter.
SBOBET football reporters expected many things but, of all the World Cup 2018 predictions, a sending off so early isn’t one.
Suddenly, last month’s survey which revealed almost 90 per cent of Japan fans didn’t expect their team to get out of Group H seemed far-fetched.
Their country, cheered on by fans including a particularly compelling duo dressed in full Samurai gear, were in the ascendancy while Colombia were left stunned.
In scorching conditions, the Japanese fans were in full voice and the disruption which preceded their build-up to the tournament seemed distant.
First, there was the managerial upheaval when the unfortunate Vahid Halilhodzic was harshly removed from his post.
He was replaced by the Japan Football Association’s technical director Akira Nishino who had just one game in charge before he had to pick his squad.
Then there was the disruption caused by an alarm going off by accident at the team hotel in the early hours, leaving Japan’s players feeling deprived of sleep.
Yet, here was Nishino’s men a goal to the good, up against 10 men and with two of his three big hitters—Kagawa being the other—Shinji Okazaki and Keisuke Honda still available from the bench.
Japan optimism was abounding on a hot Russian summer day and Yuya Osako could easily have doubled their advantage.
Perhaps, that was what the fragile Japanese players needed after 10-man Colombia equalised moments later.
In truth, they should probably not have been awarded a free-kick in the first instance, but it was difficult not to acknowledge the impudent finish from Juan Quintero.
His clever free-kick caught out Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima. Quintero waited for the wall to jump before placing the ball underneath and across the line—with Kawashima trying to claim otherwise.
Suddenly, it was Colombia who were making all the noise.
The South Americans had created a really special atmosphere and were making all the noise as their 10-men deservedly fought back.
Jose Pekerman, the longest-serving coach in Colombia’s history, also had an ace up his sleeve in James Rodriguez, their star man in Brazil four years ago when he finished as the tournament’s top scorer with six goals to help his country reach the quarter-finals.
Suffering from a muscle problem, he was brought on for Quintero just before the hour.
Yet, it wasn’t to be.
The numerical advantage is nearly always key, particularly in the lunchtime heat as was the case in the Saransk.
When Osako restored Japan’s lead, rising highest from substitute Honda’s free-kick, it had been coming.
His header into the top right corner left David Ospina rooted to the spot.
If the script was set for Rodriquez to be the hero, Osako wasn’t having any of it as he put up a superb block seven minutes later to further frustrate the Colombians.
A surprise result but, given the early drama, perhaps not—the Samurai Blue finally have a win.
Key statistics
These two teams met in the group stage at the last World Cup. Colombia won 4-1 in Cuiaba.
Carlos Sanchez’ red card after two minutes and 56 seconds is the second fastest shown in World Cup history, after Jose Alberto Batista’s 54-second dismissal for Uruguay vs Scotland in 1986.
There have already been more direct free-kick goals scored in just 15 games at this World Cup than there were in the 2014 tournament.
This was the first World Cup match in the career of Radamel Falcao.
World Cup 2018 news provides quirky stories. One such tale is that Pekerman has only given one press conference since March. And that was before this match under media obligations imposed by FIFA.
What’s next?
It’s a key day next for Colombia who must avoid defeat against Poland in Kazan to stem off an early exit.
Japan meet Senegal in Yekaterinburg three hours earlier.
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