Poland 0-3 Colombia: World Cup 2018 Russia Group H goals, result
Goals by Yerry Mina, Radamel Falcao and Juan Cuadrado saw Colombia knock Poland out of the World Cup inSunday's Group H clash in Kazan.
Poland 0-3 Colombia: match report
Colombia exploded to life against Poland at Kazan Arena on Sunday night to get their World Cup back on track after a stumble to start the tournament against Japan. Poland might end up going home with zero points in what has been an drab World Cup from them despite the quality in their squad.
From the start, it was clear Colombia were keen to make amends for that poor opening game. They started quicker than Poland but Lewandwoski and co. gave as good as they got in those opening exchanges. That was before Colomba wrestled control of them game off them and started to create chances with James, Falcao, Quintero and Cuadrado all improving as the minutes ticked by.
Three of the Fab Four were involved in the opening goal with Quintero finding James with a disguised pass he received off Cuadrado. James lofted a perfect pass into Yerry Mina's path and he nodded home, rising higher than Szczesny in the six-yard box.
Poland had no response and while they were having more luck going forward in the second half, Colombia killed any hope of a comeback on 70 minutes when Quintero found Falcao and he sent a sliding outside-of-the-boot ball beyond the onrushing keeper.
Their despair was compounded minutes later when Juan Cuadrado raced clear from an inch-perfect from James Rodriguez. He curled home and Colombia were home and hosed. They play Senegal in their third game in a must-win situation while Poland's postmortem will begin in earnest immediately.
Poland vs Colombia live online: as it happened
Poland vs Colombia live online: preview
Two teams who are looking to rebound after disappointing opening games take each other on at the Kazan Arena on Sunday evening. Poland, who were beaten well by Senegal and Colombia, who were given a lesson against Japan, need to win this game to give themselves a fighting chance of qualifying for the last 16 of the World Cup.
Poland were humbled by an energetic Senegal side with their inability to get the ball to Robert Lewandowski causing the most concern. Manager Adam Nawalka is expected to ring the changes after his striker and Arkadiusz Milik, his number 10, combined for just one pass in that first game. That is the symptom of a broken system and Kamil Glik, Jacek Goralski and Bartosz Bereszynski could all come in to replace his faltering starters. They have no injury concerns ahead of the game.
James Rodríguez should return after a calf injury kept him out of the first game. He came on in that opening tie but Carlos Sánchez had already been sent off in the fourth minute and Colombia were fighting a losing battle. With the Bayern star set to start, Colombia will be an entirely different proposition. Sánchez is suspended but aside from that, Luis Muriel is pushing for a place as is Carlos Bacca. It will be interesting to see what Jose Pékerman does in this must-win game as Colombia were seen as potential dark horses and a group stage exit would be a disaster.