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Yerry Mina\u2019s second-half header secured Colombia a 1-0 win against Senegal in their final Group H game and a place in the last 16 of the World Cup.<\/p>\nYerry Mina\u2019s second-half header secured Colombia a 1-0 win against Senegal in their final Group H game and a place in the last 16 of the World Cup.<\/p>\n
Defender Mina headed home Juan Quintero\u2019s 74th-minute cross in a game of few chances as Colombia finished top of the group and sent Senegal crashing out of the tournament.<\/p>\n
Senegal needed only a point to progress to the knockout stage, but defeat in Samara coupled with Japan\u2019s 1-0 loss to Poland sees the Africans exit the tournament courtesy of an inferior disciplinary record.<\/p>\n
Colombia, who needed to win after recovering from their opening 2-1 defeat to Japan by beating Poland 3-0, were not at their best, but Senegal failed to make their early dominance pay.<\/p>\n
The Africans are the first team to be knocked out of a World Cup on the fair play rule having finished level on points, goal difference and goals scored with Japan.<\/p>\n
Colombia were first to threaten through Quintero\u2019s free-kick, which was well saved by Nigeria goalkeeper Khadim Ndiaye.<\/p>\n
Senegal were quicker to settle into any kind of rhythm though and only a brilliant last-ditch tackle from Colombia defender Davinson Sanchez denied Sadio Mane a clear scoring chance.<\/p>\n
Serbian referee Milorad Mazic initially deemed Tottenham center-half Sanchez\u2019s challenge to have been a foul and pointed to the spot.<\/p>\n
But after the incident was referred to VAR, replays clearly showed Sanchez had connected with the ball first and Mazic overruled his initial decision.<\/p>\n
Colombia were dealt a blow in the 31st minute when James Rodriguez, who missed his country\u2019s opening defeat to Japan due to a calf injury, was withdrawn and replaced by Luis Muriel.<\/p>\n
The first half remained goalless at half-time and the Colombia fans raised the decibels in a bid to lift their side, who continued to struggle to find the form they had produced against Poland.<\/p>\n
Los Cafeteros did show more urgency, but Radamel Falcao was offering little in the final third and Senegal were still a threat on the break.<\/p>\n
Neither side had created a further goal scoring chance in the second period until Muriel\u2019s 65th-minute shot was deflected for a corner, which Falcao headed tamely wide.<\/p>\n
Colombia then appealed for a penalty when Ndiaye caught Muriel after racing out to clear the ball, but the Senegal keeper got to it first and referee Mazic was unmoved.<\/p>\n
The South Americans, having done little to suggest they would break the deadlock, took the lead in the 74th minute.<\/p>\n
Quintero swung over an excellent corner from the right and central defender Mina powered home an unstoppable header.<\/p>\n
Senegal were all of a sudden facing a World Cup exit, level on points and goal difference with Group H rivals Japan, but heading out of the tournament because they had picked up more yellow cards.<\/p>\n
Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina denied M\u2019Baye Niang and Ismaila Sarr volleyed Mane\u2019s cross over the bar from 12 yards, but it was too little too late for Senegal.<\/p>\n