Straight Red (6/19)

The first red card of the tournament!  Just three minutes in, H4-Japan caught H3-Colombia off-guard and what could've been a red card (at least a yellow) for trying to drag down Yuya Osako as he went 1v1 on the GK, credit to Osako, he didn't dive, continued forward with the shot that was saved but the rebound shot by Shinji Kagawa is saved by Carlos Sanchez... by his arm and he reaches out to stop the ball.  Dumb play as Colombia could've easily rallied from a very early 1-0 deficit, but much harder to do with just 10 men.  In my mischief, I was kinda hoping there would be two reds on Colombia but one is good enough.  Credit to Colombia for fighting back and the classic free kick UNDER the wall was brilliantly done to level up 1-1 (reminded me of David Beckham's first match in New York in 2007, where Juan Pablo Angel did the same thing, going under the LA Galaxy wall past the GK on a free kick).  But Japan would get the game-winner off a corner and becomes the first AFC team to beat a CONMEBOL team in World Cup play.

Meanwhile, H2-Senegal used a H1-Poland own goal to gain confidence and never let
Poland control the match.  But up 1-0, controversy ensued as after an "injury", Senegal's Mbaye Niang was waiting on the sidelines to come in.  For some reason, despite the ball moving fast on the pitch (albeit on the Senegal side), the ref waved the player in -- on the Poland side, and after a few steps saw Poland try to play the ball back and he got there first and then went around the GK for the easy tap in.  It was neat to see (how often do you see a hockey-style substiution lead to a goal?) but the ref just botched it not waiting for a calm sequence either deep in the Senegal end or deep in the Poland end (where the Polish players would at least be looking in that direction).  Poland managed to pull one back but it was too late as Senegal makes sure Africa does not go winless.  So now the two heavy favorites are on the bottom of Group H and the 61st-ranked team and African team are on top.

A1-Russia continues their dream run exploding in the second half with 3 goals (starting with a A2-Egypt own goal) but legendary Mohamed Salah did get a PK goal for Egypt.  Russia hasn't clinched yet though any points by A4-Uruguay tomorrow will put the Russians through to the Round of 16.  A Uruguay win would put both teams through.

Spermicidal FC was the only one to go 3-0 while Toshiyori, Ish, and Patty went 2-1.  Ilvecchio still leads with 12 points with Alyonushka and Spermicidal FC tied for 2nd with 11 points after 17 matches played.  For analysis after 16 matches, you can check out the standings, results, and Update # 2.