Colombia’s World Cup hopes were hanging by a thread against Senegal, but an unlikely hero emerged to fire them through to the knockout stages, or head them through.
Yerry Mina’s 74th minute goal, a bullet header from a corner kick, gave Colombia a tense, dramatic win and top spot in Group H.
Here’s a closer look at the performance that made the centre-back the Hero of the Day.
30-SECOND REPORT
For the second straight World Cup, a young Colombian is emerging as a hero, with the 23-year-old Mina powering a header into the back of the net to keep his country’s campaign alive. It was poetic that he stepped up after the hero of the last World Cup, James Rodriguez, went off injured in the first half.
GOT RIGHT
Aerial presence – All over the pitch, Mina was nearly impossible to beat. It begs the question how Senegal let him go unmarked for the goal, because he’d been winning headers all game long.
Passing – It’s clear how Mina is a fit at Barcelona. Defensively, he can still improve, but his distribution fits the mould for a Barca centre-back. Only teammate Davinson Sanchez had more pass attempts and completed passes here.
GOT WRONG
Mina is still unpolished as a defender – not entirely surprising considering his age – and it showed on occasion on Thursday. Though he has the pace to make up for most mistakes, he’s susceptible to being beaten on the dribble and isn’t the most assured tackler. It’s something that he’ll no doubt work on and improve as his career progresses.
VERDICT
Mina is still a work in progress as a player, but much hope has been placed in that progress by club and country. He began paying some of that faith back on Thursday. Shorn of their talisman, Rodriguez, Colombia were wondering who could win this crucial match for them. Enter Mina, who is now an instant hero in his homeland.
RATING – 8/10
