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KAZAN, Russia (Reuters) – The Colombian World Cup campaign has regained its place with an overwhelming 3-0 victory over Poland on Sunday, warning rivals and sending disappointing Poles.
Defender Yerry Mina scored the first goal in the 40th minute with captain Radamel Falcao and winger Juan Cuadrado who shone in Group H scoring two goals in five minutes in the final quarter.
Midfielder James Rodriguez, winner of the Golden Boot at the last World Cup, returned to the starting lineup after injury and played a role in two of the goals as Colombia regained the lead after defeat against Japan.
The victory put the South Americans third in Group H with three points behind Japan and Senegal, who shared a draw 2-2 earlier Sunday to grab four points apiece.
A Colombian win over Africans in their last first round match at Samara on Thursday would secure them a place in the round of 16 and keep them at least on the same level as the quarter-finals in Brazil four years ago.
"We were playing under the pressure of having to win and there could be no mistake," said coach Jose Pekerman of Colombia.
"Over time, we have managed to impose the quality of this type of football we have.The team has played as a unit in all its segments and football has emerged from this unit."
For Poland, the optimism sparked by their place in the quarter-finals at Euro 2016 and a solid qualifying campaign proved to be out of place as prolific striker Robert Lewandowski made a void and they dropped to a second consecutive defeat.
"Maybe that's all we could do … let's be honest, it's not like we're lost a hair," Lewandowski said.
"I was alone, we fought, I fought, I did everything I could, but fighting is not enough to win World Cup matches, you have to also have quality and we have too few. "
SWELTERING NIGHT
The match began with a hubbub on the part of Colombian fans in yellow jerseys during a stifling evening at the Kazan Arena and the first exchanges were frantic, with both teams seeking to make up for their initial losses.
Poland's offensive tactics were limited to throwing long balls at Lewandowski and although Colombia was trying to play the ball on the ground, they could not get their pass.
Cuadrado caused some problems on Poland's right flank, however, and a mazy dribble in the 37th minute saw the winger forge the first real opening, which goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny blocked behind.
The respite was brief and in the next attack from Colombia, Juan Quintero found Rodriguez inside the penalty area and sent the ball into the danger zone so Mina could slip into the net at close range.
The Poles came out early in the second period and Lewandowski finally had the opportunity to open his World Cup account in the 58th minute but his first touch on the long ball was not the best and goalkeeper David Ospina stifled his shot.
Colombia saw the danger and doubled the bet after 70 minutes when Quintero's pass allowed Falcao to beat the last defender before passing the ball in front of Szczesny with the outside of his boot.
Poland continued to push and five minutes later Rodriguez crossed the finish line to allow Cuadrado to qualify for a good performance.
Lewandowski had a thunderous thrust overthrown by Ospina and the goalkeeper put his body back into play to block Dawid Kownacki's shot from close range but that was too little, too late.
"We lost against a very strong team and that's what we have to accept," said coach Adam Nawalka of Poland. "I'm really sorry and very sad to have lost but tomorrow is another day."
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