SPORTS:Sanchez Observes First Red In Russia As Colombia Falls One Short of Japan

Colombia got their World Cup campaign off with a disastrous performance against Japan on Tuesday afternoon they slumped to a 2-1 defeat in Saransk.

The 2014 quarter-finalists began without star man James Rodriguez, who suffered a calf injury earlier in the week and was named on the bench, and his side were dealt a further blow soon after the first whistle with a third-minute red card.

Japan beat 10-man Colombia to lay down a significant marker in their World Cup opener.Also sitting in a group with Poland and Senegal, a win against the South Americans is a huge – and perhaps unexpected – boost in their first Group H game.

A frantic start to the game saw Colombia’s Carlos Sanchez sent off after handling Shinji Kagawa’s shot, making the midfielder the second-fastest sending-off in World Cup history.

The Borussia Dortmund and ex-Manchester United playmaker scored from the resulting penalty, before Juan Quintero leveled with a free-kick which narrowly crept over the line to make it 1-1.

The South Americans stood firm thereafter with the Japanese unable to make their man advantage count for much of the second half.But Cologne striker Yuya Osako glanced in substitute Keisuke Honda’s corner after 73 minutes and Akira Nishino’s side held on for a precious three points.

The Samurai Blue finally established the lead from a set-piece. Seconds after missing a sitter, Honda whips in the subsequent corner and Osako beats Ospina with a header via the inside of the far post for a huge win. The first time in 18 attempts an Asian side has beaten a South American nation at the World Cup.