Colombia 1-1 England (3-4 penalties): World Cup 2018 last 16 match

Colombia vs England match report

England have won their first penalty shootout at a World Cup against Colombia and will now face Sweden in the quarter finals on Saturday as they look to reach their first semi-final since 1990.

It was a bitter way to go out for Colombia, but England were the deserved winners after having controlled the majority of the game. Colombia really had nothing to give, as England piled on the pressure, and Southgate’s men finally got broke the deadlock in the 57th minute when Kane scored a penalty awarded after he was needlessly and foolishly taken down in the box by Carlos Sanchez during a corner play. It was Kane’s sixth goal of the tournament, which puts him ahead in the race for the Golden Boot.

Colombia really did not look like they had the quality to score on the night, and England were sailing through to the quarter final. But Colombian prayers were answered in injury time when, completely against the run of play, the men in yellow won their only corner of the game, the cross from which center back Yerri Mina headed home – his third of the tournament and Colombia’s fourth goal from a set piece out of six goals in total. The referee blew it up soon after and England could not believe they hadn’t done enough.

Extra time and penalties

With Colombia elated, and England deflated, the momentum of the game swung in the favour of the South American side, and they controlled the first half of extra time much in the same way England had for the first 90 minutes. But they couldn’t make their chances count. England found themselves in control again in the second half of extra time and came close on several occasions. However, they couldn’t break the deadlock and so the game would be decided on a dreaded penalty shootout.

The first five penalty takers all found the net, and with the penalty count at 3-2 in favor of the South Americans, Henderson came to try to square it up, but his effort was saved by Ospina. It was looking like England would suffer their usual fate in penalty shootouts. But Pickford saved the day and the shot of Uribe, giving England another chance to square it up, which they did thanks to Trippier’s well taken spot kick – 3-3 with one more penalty each. Bacca went first for Colombia and Pickford saved again – advantage England. Eric Dier stepped up after that and drove his spot kick home to give England a 4-3 win on penalties, and their first penalty shootout victory at a World Cup. Colombia, who clearly missed the injured James Rodrigues, go home.A relieved England roll on with their World Cup dreams still alive.

Colombia vs England extra-time live updates:

Colombia vs England preview:

By Paul Reidy

Will Gareth Southgate’s decision to send out a reserve side against Belgium in the final Group G game come back to haunt him as his “Three Lions” face “Los Cafeteros” from Colombia in the final Round of 16 game of the 2018 World Cup?

Moscow’s Spartak Stadium is the setting for tonight’s tussle in deciding who will face Sweden in Saturday’s quarter final clash with both sides in what is deemed by many to be the easier side of the road to the final, a feeling further compounded by Spain’s elimination at the Luzninki stadium on Sunday at the hands of Russia after a dramatic penalty shoot-out.

Colombia

The fitness of James Rodriguez is the main concern for Colombia fans with coach Jose Pekerman set to make a late decision if the Bayern play-maker should start in Moscow or not. Barrios and Muriel are alternatives should the talismanic No. 10 fail to pull on the yellow shirt in only the second ever meeting between both nations at a World Cup, with England overcoming the Colombian in France 1998 with a 2-0 win in Lens.

England

Ahead of the Round of 16 tie, England boss Gareth Southgate was optimistic speaking in his pre-match press conference: “For this team, this is a brilliant opportunity to go beyond where more experienced teams have before them. The lads have got the chance to write their own stories.

"We have been in this position before many times over the last however many years," he added. "It is pointless to think about what might happen after the game here.

“This time round we want to keep up that pressure from the start and I think that is going to happen. We have to be ready to play from the get-go in such a way to have the initiative on our side. We want our good quality to control the game. We will focus on the game and our performance and everything will fall into place from there.

"Maybe the teams who aren't here weren't as strong this time. If teams are beating Spain and Germany they have also got to be respected. We haven't even discussed anything beyond [Tuesday]."

Fabian Delph is the only player unavailable to the England manager, after he was allowed to return home following the birth of his son. Captain Harry Kane is set to start after being rested for the game against Belgium, and will be looking to add to his tally of 5 goals, which have put him in ahead in the race for the Golden Boot.