Japan rise, on Colombian Mina’s wings

VOLGOGRAD, June 28 

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Japan became the only Asian side to progress to the World Cup’s last-16 on Thursday, slipping through despite losing 1-0 against already-eliminated Poland thanks to their lower tally of yellow cards, which meant Senegal went out. The ‘Samurai Blue’ needed a draw to definitely advance to the knockout rounds after they beat Colombia and drew with Senegal in the previous two games, reversing low expectations at the start of the tournament. Yet they still progressed in second place on account of having fewer yellow cards than Senegal, who were level on points, goal difference and goals scored with Japan, after the Africans lost 1-0 to Colombia. Japan will now face either England or Belgium in the last-16.

The game petered out in the dying minutes in farcical circumstances with both Japan and Poland so happy with the result that they were content to let the Japanese play keep-ball in their own half. The match was often lethargic anyway in the 36 degree Celsius heat, but the stupor was broken at the 59th minute when Poland’s Rafal Kurzawa floated a free-kick to the far post and an unmarked Jan Bednarek scored from close range.

That suggested Japan’s coach Akira Nishino had perhaps been overly confident when he made six changes to the line-up, excluding midfielder Takashi Inui, whom he then brought on in the 65th minute. Poland were seeking to restore some pride by eking out a win against Japan and fielded striker Robert Lewandowski in the hope he could break his Russia goal drought. The Eastern Europeans did indeed prove more combative than the Japanese, but Japan’s goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima made a spectacular save that denied Kamil Grosicki’s header right before it crossed the line in the first half. The game took the edge off a disappointing run for Poland, who reached the quarterfinals of Euro 2016 where they went out on penalties to eventual champs Portugal. 

In Samara, Colombia’s Yerry Mina thumped home a second-half header to secure a dramatic 1-0 victory over Senegal that catapulted the South Americans into the last-16. Senegal had only needed a point in their final Group H game to reach the next round, but defeat saw them miss out. It was the first time in World Cup history that two teams had been separated by the amount of yellow cards they had accrued in the tournament. The Asian side ended in second position having picked up four yellow cards to Senegal’s six. Defeat for Senegal eliminated them at the group stage in their first World Cup appearance since 2002, and left Africa without a representative in the knockout stages. Senegal had been heading through until the 74th minute when Mina rose to meet a corner and sent a bullet header into the net. — Reuters

Senegal suffer yellow peril

Japan progressed in second place on account of having fewer yellow cards than Senegal, who were level on points, goal difference and goals scored with the Asians. Japan had four yellow cards to Senegal’s six.