World Cup: Falcao, Cuadrado fashion Colombia win against Poland, FT 3-0

With this defeat, Poland has become the first European team to be eliminated from the Fifa World Cup 2018. Colombia stay alive

When the stakes are as high as an exit from the world cup for both the competing teams, one expects to see a hard-fought game. However, the match between Poland and Colombia was nothing like it. Colombia was a team on a mission to win and Poland came out on the field to make sure Colombia accomplishes the mission. 

Such lack-lusture was the performance of Poland that they have become the first European team to be eliminated from the World Cup. Colombia dominated the game right from the kick-off. While Colombia played a well-organised team, Poland hinged and waited for Lewandowski to produce some magical moment. It never happened. 

Mina was first one to score for Colombia in the 40th minute of the game, giving his team the lead with a wonderful header. The pressure mounted on Polish side as Falcao scored an amazing goal, doubling the lead for Colombia. Polish players did make some moves but they just could not complete them. They lacked finishing touch. 

(Photo: Reuters)

Scattered all over the field, lack of a playmaker who could make a definitive and productive move, missing golden opportunities were the reasons for Poland's defeat. Adding insult to the injuries, Cuadrado scored the third goal for Colombia in the 74 the minute, sealing a comfortable victory for his team. 

With this win, Colombia stand a good chance of progressing to the round of 16 of the world cup. Poland will play against Japan and leave for their home soon after. 

UPDATES:

90+5': There is the whistle and that is the end the end of Polish dreams in World Cup 2018. 

5 extra minutes

88': A brilliant effort by Lewandowski, yet unable to find the net. 

84': Despite conceding three goals Poland are not able to take the ball in Colombian Half.  

74': Caudrado scores. It is all over for Poland. The lead is now 3-0. Only something magical can save Poland now. 

72': Falcao scores!!!! Colombia are ahead by two goals. Beautiful pass and what a touch to send it to the goal post.  

70': Free kick for Poland goes in vain. 

65': Poland looking too desperate to score an equiliser. Colombian Defence is just too strong for them.  

60': Bednarek gets a yellow card for pushing Uribe. 

59': Lewandowski fails to convert the opportunity once again. However, it was a brilliant save from the Colombian goalkeeper. 

47': Nice move by Colombians but a good chance goes down as the shot attempted was way too high. 

46': Poland start off the second half aggressively but are still not able to find the net. 

Second Half

 

Falcao scoring against Poland. (Photo: Reuters)

Here are the squads for Poland vs Colombia match

44': Poland making desperate attempts to equalise. 

40': GOOOAAALLLL Colombia take the lead. Brilliant corner kick. and a lovely header finds the net. Mina scores. Colombia leads 1-0 Poland.

33': Colombian corner. Poland has 10 players in front of the goal post. Net not found.

30': Aguilar of Colombia taken off the field on a stretcher as he injured his thigh. Uribe comes in. 

25': Colombia in more attacking mode than Poland. Seems the entire Polish attack is hinging on Lewandowski. 

23': Despite having the majority of the ball possession, Colombians are not able to covert the chances. 

21': Colombian forwards breaching the entire Polish defence but could not produce a goal. 

17': Good passing and tackle going on. Lewandowski is down, but he gets to resume,. 

15': Polish defenders doing their jobs nicely as Colombians look to up the ante. 

7': Lewandowski steps on the fingers of a Colombian player. NO foul given. 

3': Lewandowski pushes a header in from Bereszynski.


Colombia's preparations for Sunday's crunch match got overshadowed by a police investigation into death threats made to midfielder Carlos Sanchez after he received a red card in the third minute of Tuesday's 1-2 loss against Japan.
 

Poland: Szczesny, Piszczek, Bednarek, Pazdan, Bereszynski, Krychowiak, Goralski, Rybus, Zielinski, Lewandowski, Kownacki. 

Subs: Bialkowski, Jedrzejczyk, Cionek, Milik, Linetty, Grosicki, Teodorczyk, Glik, Blaszczykowski, Peszko, Kurzawa, Fabianski. 

Colombia: Ospina, Arias, Davinson Sanchez, Mina, Mojica, Aguilar, Barrios, Cuadrado, Quintero, Rodriguez, Falcao. 

Subs: Vargas, Zapata, Murillo, Bacca, Muriel, Uribe, Lerma, Diaz, Borja, Izquierdo, Cuadrado. 

Referee: Cesar Arturo Ramos Palazuelos (Mexico).

The incident brought back memories of the killing of late star defender Andres Escobar, who was gunned down after scoring an own goal during a match against the United States which contributed to Colombia's elimination from the 1994 World Cup.

Sanchez was sent off for a deliberate handball after trying to block a shot inside the penalty area and will miss the match against Poland.

Coach Jose Pekerman could play Mateus Uribe in place of Sanchez as he also has to deal with injury concerns to star attacking midfielder James Rodriguez, who was used as a 59th minute substitute against Japan as he recovers from a calf problem.

Rodriguez, the Golden Boot winner at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, would be ideal along with Juan Quintero in midfield and Pekerman would be desperate to use that combination.

Poland are eighth in the FIFA rankings but lost to Senegal in their opening encounter courtesy a pair of disastrous errors.

Senegal's well-drilled backline kept Poland's star striker Robert Lewandowski subdued and coach Adam Nawalka will hope his midfield plays with more purpose to boost supply to the country's record goal-scorer.

The recall of defensive stalwart Kamil Glik, who missed the Senegal opener with a shoulder injury, would be a huge boost to Poland's hopes of stopping the likes of Rodriguez and AS Monaco star Radamel Falcao.

There are still doubts over Glik's fitness however, so Thiago Cionek, his replacement against Senegal, may keep his starting place despite conceding an own goal in that match.

Poland vs Colombia: When and Where to watch

Time: 11:30 PM (IST)

In today's Group H match, Poland vs Colombia match will take place in Nizhny Novgorod stadium on Sunday, June 24, 2018, at 11:30 PM (IST).

Poland vs Colombia match will be broadcast on Sony Ten 2, Sony Ten 2 HD, Sony ESPN, Sony ESPN HD in English Commentary and Sony Ten 3 and Sony 3 HD in Hindi Commentary.

Poland vs Colombia match will be available for live streaming on Sony Liv also. And Both Airtel and Jio would broadcast the FIFA World Cup 2018 matches for free to their respective subscribers.

Here are the squads for the match between Poland vs Colombia

Poland's final 23-man squad:

Goalkeepers: Bartosz Bialkowski, Lukasz Fabianski and Wojciech Szczesny 

Defenders: Jan Bednarek, Bartosz Bereszynski, Thiago Cionek, Marcin Kaminski, Lukasz Piszczek, Artur Jedrzejczyk and Michal Pazdan 

Midfielders: Jakub Blaszczykowski, Jacek Goralski, Kamil Grosicki, Grzegorz Krychowiak, Rafal Kurzawa, Karol Linetty, Slawomir Peszko, Maciej Rybus and Piotr Zielinski 

Forwards: Dawid Kownacki, Robert Lewandowski, Arkadiusz Milik, Lukasz Teodorczyk

The 23 man Colobia squad:

Goalkeepers: Jose Cuadrado, David Ospina, Camilo Vargas 

Defenders: Santiago Arias, Frank Fabra, Yerry Mina, Johan Mojica, Oscar Murillo, Davinson Sanchez, Cristian Zapata.

Midfielders: Abel Aguilar, Wilmar Barrios, Juan Cuadrado, Jefferson Lerma, Juan Quintero, James Rodriguez, Carlos Sanchez, Mateus Uribe.

Forwards: Miguel Borja, Radamel Falcao, Jose Izquierdo, Luis Muriel