Tuesday June 19th

Group H

Japanese mountain too steep

Japan 2 Colombia 1 (Saransk)
Reduced to 10 men and a goal down early on in the match, Colombia fought back but ended up losing their match to Japan. In the 3rd minute Osaka raced towards goal only to see his effort blocked by Ospina, but the return from Kagawa was handled by Sanchez who was shown the first red card of this World Cup. Shinji Kagawa rolled the ball past the deceived Ospina from the spot to leave the 10 Colombians with a daunting task ahead of them. In the 39th minute a Quintero freekick went under the jumping Japanese wall and Kawashima couldn't prevent the ball from crossing the line. Ospina got down to save from Osako at his near post in the 54th minute and dived to his left to keep out a curler from Inui 3 minutes later but was beaten in the 73rd minute when Osaka got up to flick his header in off the post from a corner kick. James Rodrigues had a chance late on for Colombia but blasted high.

Group H

Senegal enjoy Polish gifts

Senegal 2 Poland 1 (Moscow)

An own goal and a defensive error helped Senegal to a victory over Poland. In the 37th minute Gueye's shot from outside the area was deflected past Szczensy for an own goal. N'Diaye dived to punch away a free kick from Lewandowski in the 50th minute, but on the hour-mark Krychowiak lofted the ball back into his own half and Niang stole it from the outcoming Szczensy to conquer the empty net and double Senegal's lead. In the 70th minute Milik flicked the ball past the post from close range and in the 86th minutes a free kick was floated into the box and headed home by Krychowiak, but it was too little too late for Poland.

Group A

On the brink

Russia 3 Egypt 1 (St Petersburg)

A 3-1 win for Russia over Egypt puts the hosts on the brink of qualification for the next round while the Pharaohs are left hanging by a thread. The closest either side came in the first half was when Trezeguet curled the ball inches wide of the post in the 16th minute, but 2 minutes into the second half Russia took the lead when Zobnin's mis-hit shot went in off an Egyptian knee for an own goal. In the 59th minute Fernandez pulled the ball back from the byline for Denis Cherychef to sidefoot past El Shenaway and 3 minutes later a long ball to the edge of the area was chested down by Dzyuba who poked it past a defender and scored with an accurate finish. In the 72nd minute the referee awarded a freekick just outside the box but with the help of VAR changed it to a penalty which Mohamed Salah dispatched with aplomb.