Day 6 Recaps: Japan and Senegal Upset Contenders, Russia on Brink of Last 16 Qualification

The first match today brought a massive upset in Group H, as Japan beat Colombia 2-1. In the 3rd minute, Japan's Shinji Kagama's shot just outside the box was blocked by Colombian Carlos Sanchez's arm, earning Sanchez a straight red. Kagawa converted the PK 3 minutes later. Colombia equalized in the 39th after a questionable call earned Colombia a free kick. Juan Quintero tied it up on the free kick by sending it low, under the Japanese wall, and beating keeper Eiji Kawashima. In the 50th minute, Colombia keeper David Ospina saved Takashi Inui's curling shot from 20 yards out. After Saki's strike was deflected wide in the 73rd minute, earning a corner. the SamuraiBlue got the lead from the corner. Yuya Osako headed it in off the far post to give Japan the 2-1 lead. Colombian striker James Rodriguez came in to find a tying goal, but his close range strike in the 79th was blocked by Osako. This marked the first World Cup game an Asian squad defeated a South American team.

Later, another Group H game took place between Senegal and Poland. In the 37th minute, Senegal got the lead when a strike from Idrissa Gueye redirected off Polish defender Thiago Cionek to beat the keeper Wojciech Szczesny. In the 50th, Robert Lewandowski of Poland had his free kick stopped by diving Senegal keeper Khadim N'Diaye. M'Baye Niang got his second through an unusual sequence of events. Niang was temporarily hurt and on the sidelines until the ref waved him back on. As he came back on, Poland volleyed the ball way back, only for Niang to take control, beat Szczesny, and score into an empty net. Grzegorz Krychowiak headed in a goal in the 87th to make things interesting, but Senegal held on for the upset.

Group A resumed play today with Egypt and Russia. Mo Salah made his WC debut, and his one turn-around shot in the 43rd minute was just wide. Russia went up 1-0 in the 47th when Roman Zubnin's cross deflected off Egyptian defender Ahmed Fathy into the net. They would score 2 more quickly in a 3 minute span: first in the 59th, when Denis Cheryshev struck it in from cross range from a low Mario Fernandes cross; the second in the 61st, when Artem Dzyuba controlled the ball in the box, and blasted it past keeper Mohamed El-Shenawy. Egypt earned a PK for Salah to convert in the 73rd, after he was fouled. This win puts Russia in prime position to finish 1st in the group, and almost assuredly a spot in the Round of 16. For Egypt, the opposite, as they are nearly eliminated.

Osako (blue, #15) headed in the GWG for Japan