Colombia crash out of World Cup after surprising shootout win for England

England players celebrate their win over Colombia

Tuesday Jul 03, 2018. 23:05

England defeated Colombia 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 stalemate in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match at the Spartak Stadium on Tuesday.

As a result, the Three Lions progressed into the quarter-finals, while the Coffee Growers bowed out of the tournament.

The match got off to a lively start with both teams launching attacks in search of an early goal and it was England, who threatened first.

The Three Lions were awarded a free-kick in the fifth minute after Colombia defender Yerry Mina was adjudged to have handled the ball just outside the box.

Ashley Young's effort from the set-piece was punched away by Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina, who is on the books of English giants Arsenal FC.

England looked dangerous every time they pushed forward and they nearly scored in the 17th minute after the Coffee Growers' defence was exposed.

Kieran Trippier delivered a delightful cross to the back post and his England team-mate Kane was there on the stretch a couple yards out, but the ball looped over the crossbar.

The Coffee Growers took control of the game towards the half-hour mark, but they were struggling to penetrate the Three Lions' defence.

Colombia striker Radamel Falcao unleashed a shot which was well-blocked by England central defender Harry Maguire in the 23rd minute.

Eleven minutes later, Falcao, who is the Coffee Growers captain, set-up Juan Fernando Quintero, who fired wide of the target from the edge of the England box.

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was finally tested on the stroke of half-time and he gathered Quintero's long range effort with ease.

The two teams were locked at 0-0 at the interval following a tightly contested first-half.

England made the perfect start to the second-half as they were awarded a penalty nine minutes after the restart.

Colombia hardman Carlos Sanchez fouled Kane inside the box and the match referee Mark Geiger, who hails from United States of America (USA), pointed to the spot-kick.

Tottenham Hotspur marksman Kane stepped up and beat Ospina from the spot-kick to hand England a 1-0 lead three minutes, before the hour-mark.

It should have been 2-0 to the Three Lions in the 65th minute following some good work by Trippier, who was having a good match.

The right-back played a precise cross into the Colombia box and he found Dele Alli, whose header floated just over the bar from close range.

The Three Lions looked dangerous from set-pieces as Young's corner-kick found Maguire, who got up well, but headed the ball over Ospina's bar with 14 minutes left on the clock.

With 10 minutes left on the clock, England coach Gareth Southgate made a tactical change pulling out attack-minded Alli and he introduced defensive midfielder Eric Dier.

The Coffee Growers pushed for a late equalizer and Pickford was forced to make a magnificent finger-tipping save to deny Colombia attacker Mateus Uribe in stoppage time.

However, Yerry Mina scored from the resultant corner-kick to make it 1-1 for Colombia with a header to ensure that the game ended in a draw in regulation time and extra-time followed.

The two teams struggled to create clear-cut chances in the first-half of extra-time and the score was 1-1 at the interval.

England came close to scoring when substitute Danny Rose turned well, before placing his effort just narrowly wide of the right post with in the 112th minute.

Ultimately, the game ended in 1-1 stalemate and the two teams went into a penalty shootout.

England emerged 4-3 winners over Colombia on penalties after Pickford had denied Carlos Bacca from the spot-kick.

Colombia (0) 1 (Mina 90'+3)
England (0) 1 (Kane 57')

England won 4-3 on penalties.

Colombia: Ospina, Arias (Zapata 115'), Mina, Davinson, Mojica, Sanchez (Uribe 79'), Lerma (Bacca 61'), Barrios, Cuadrado, Quintero (Muriel 88'), Falcao.

England: Pickford, Walker (Rashford 113'), Stones, Maguire, Trippier, Lingard, Henderson, Alli (Dier 80'), Young (Rose 102'), Sterling (Vardy 88'), Kane.