It was the moment that Colombia had prayed for and, when it came, the release of emotion was overwhelming. South America’s second most populous nation needed a win to make sure of their place in the last 16, even though a draw would actually have sufficed in the end because of Poland’s surprise 1-0 win over Japan.
Colombia wanted to make sure themselves and they did so when Yerry Mina rose to meet Juan Quintero’s whipped corner in the 74th minute. When the towering centre-half rises in such areas, the alarm bells ring loudly and, just as he had done in Colombia’s restorative 3-0 win over Poland in the previous game, he thumped home his header.
The result, coupled with that in the other tie, meant that Colombia advanced as the Group H winners into a last-16 showdown with England or Belgium. The delight was etched into every pore of José Pekerman’s players, who performed a team dance after the goal. Up in the stands, the great Carlos Valderrama led the celebrations.
Poor Senegal. They had dominated the first half, without managing to extend David Ospina in the Colombia goal, and their performance was marked by sound tactics, organisation and aggressive pressing – together with speed on the counterattack.
But the roof fell in on them after Mina’s goal and, in the end, they were squeezed into third place and out of the competition on yellow cards accumulated, having finished level with Japan on points, goal difference and goals scored. Two bookings was all the difference. Each of Africa’s five representatives has now exited at the group phase.
The stadium was swathed in bright yellow – it really was a Colombian takeover – and the noise was deafening from the first whistle until a sudden gasp and silence on 17 minutes. Senegal thought they had a penalty and it would have been just reward for a pacy and positive opening.
The referee, Milorad Mazic, pointed to the spot, after Davinson Sánchez had jumped into a challenge on Sadio Mané, even if the decision looked harsh in real time. Enter VAR and it quickly became apparent that, although the Colombia defender might have brushed Mané’s shin first, he clearly took the ball. To immense Colombian relief, Mazic reversed the decision.
Mané had found the space off the shoulder of Sánchez to glide on to the through-ball and it had to be said it is not always a good look for a central defender to have to dive back into a last-ditch slide tackle.
Aliou Cissé had started with Mané up front alongside the powerful and direct M’baye Niang in a 4-4-2 formation and the movement of both strikers caused problems. Mané looked to have the beating of every Colombia defender and it was an uncomfortable first half for Colombia, as Senegal imposed themselves.
In the previous round of matches, Poland had sat off Colombia and allowed them to play. José Pekerman’s team duly did and the victory was transformative. Previously, the mood in Colombia had been heavy on negativity – and that went back to before the opening group tie against Japan.
