Colombia blanks Poland in must-win clash

Four years after Radamel Falcao was supposed to lead Colombia at the World Cup, he's doing just that.

Falcao missed the tournament in Brazil with a knee injury and had to wait until arriving in Russia to score his first World Cup goal. It came in Colombia's 3-0 victory over Poland on Sunday.

• SCORES & STATS: 2018FIFAWorld Cup

"It's a dream goal," Falcao said. "I'm happy for the victory, for the team's performance and the goal that I scored, which I've been waiting for for many years."

The victory kept Colombia in the running for a spot in the round of 16 and knocked out Poland, the first European country to be eliminated.

FIFA World Cup Wrap: June 24

6 years ago

Duration 2:49

Harry Kane's hat trick leads England to the Round of 16, Japan and Senegal are fit to be tied, and Colombia eliminates Poland.

Falcao, Colombia's all-time leading scorer with 30 goals, made sure he would stay healthy for this year's World Cup by sitting out several matches with his Monaco club this season.

So far, so good.

"We always hope that he can score and hope that he can be fit as he was today, and we want to help him," Colombia coach Jose Pekerman said. "I think the fact that he scored was very important, not just for today but for the matches to come.

"He is a symbol of the national team. He is a symbol of Colombian football."

Playing some scintillating soccer in Kazan, Falcao scored with the outside of his foot in the 70th minute after a superb pass from playmaker Juan Quintero in the back of the defence.

Yerry Mina scored the first goal in the 40thoff a cross from James Rodriguez and Juan Cuadrado completed the win in the 75th.

Poland ousted with 1 game remaining

Both teams lost their Group H openers and knew another loss would end their hopes of advancing. Colombia will next face Senegal on Thursday in Samara with a chance to win the group, while Poland will play Japan in Volgograd.

Senegal and Japan drew 2-2 earlier Sunday and lead the group with four points each.

Colombia is still alive ahead of its final match against Senegal and can still win the group, while Poland can only hurt Japan's chances of advancement.

Cut off from the rest of his teammates throughout the match, Robert Lewandowski had a few attempts but could not convert his rare chances.

Poland was overwhelmed in midfield and looked clueless in attack in another error-ridden display that resulted in an early exit.

The team has now failed to keep a clean sheet in its last 10 World Cup matches, since beating Portugal 1-0 in 1986.

"The Colombian team was a much better team," Poland coach Adam Nawalka said.