The last fixture of matchday 2 took place in Tatarstan as Poland hosted Colombia at the Kazan Arena in a crucial group stage game at the World Cup 2018.

Both sides were in need of a win in group H after their shocking first defeats last week against Senegal and Japan.

The Blue Samurais have topped the table followed by the west Africans.

A win for either Poland or Colombia would have meant they had a better chance in qualifying to the round of 16.

Los Cafeteros redeemed themselves from their embarrassment in the first fixture by battering the Eagles 3-0.

The game saw an amazingly consistent effort by the attacking four of Radamel Falcao, Juan Fernando Quintero, Juan Cuadrado and James Rodriguez.

A few chances were made in the first half from both sides but Bayern Munich’s Rodriguez looked to set the tone of the game.

Neither side managed to convert chances for the majority of the first half and an injury to Colombia’s Abel Aguilar saw him stretchered off in the 32nd minute.

In the closing minutes of the first half, Colombia made their breakthrough in the 40th converting a chance from a short corner.

Between James, Quintero and Cuadrado, the Bayern man found Yerry Mina’s head in the box, giving Colombia the advantage by half time.

The away fans were raving in the stands by the sight of their team’s pressing up the field.

Robert Lewandowski had two solid efforts on goal in the second half including one magnificent shot quite far outside the box.

Despite the chances he had, the Bayern striker didn’t manage to convert.

In the 70th minute, Falcao got his first goal for Colombia at the World Cup as Quintero fed the Monaco forward a ball from his outer right foot.  He then slotted it into the back of the net past Wojciech Szczesny.

Five minutes later, Los Cafeteros buried the game as a driven pass to Cuadrado was finessed into the goal.

It is up to Colombia winning their next fixture in order to qualify to the next stage securely.

 

Source of Image: @FIFAWorldCup (Twitter)

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