The tightest group of the 2018 World Cup played the part until the very end.
Yerry Mina's late header Thursday against Senegal gave Colombia a 1-0 win that awarded Los Cafeteros first place in Group H.
The result left Senegal on equal footing with Japan, which, despite losing 1-0 to Poland in the corresponding fixture, advanced due to a better overall disciplinary record.
Both Senegal and Japan finished the stage with four points, four goals scored, and four goals against, but because they also drew each other 2-2, the only other tiebreaker that applied was FIFA's fair play criteria.
Japan boasted a better record with four yellow cards to Senegal's six.
| # | W-D-L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colombia | 2-0-1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 2 | Japan | 1-1-1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | Senegal | 1-1-1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | Poland | 1-0-2 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 3 |
Two of Senegal's bookings came in the 90th and 91st minutes of the stalemate with Japan last Sunday.
It's a heartbreaking exit for the Lions of Teranga, who came into the tournament as Africa's greatest hope. Head coach Aliou Cisse, captain of the Senegalese side that shocked France in 2002, entered this World Cup with a popular cast of players and a structured style of play.
Senegal only needed a draw against Colombia to book a spot in the knockout round, a proposition that became more achievable with James Rodriguez's early departure through injury. Senegal also earned a penalty, but the Video Assistant Referee ruled that Colombian defender Davinson Sanchez had cleanly won the ball from Mane.
Cisse's side struggled to keep possession for the remainder of the contest, and eventually fell behind in the 74th minute to Mina's header. Goalkeeper Khadim N'Diaye was unable to parry the ball as it bounced off the pitch and beyond him.
Japan appeared to know what was happening in Samara, and began playing tedious back passes to kill time. There was no attempt to change the score against Poland.
