Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WORLD CUP LAST 16 CHEATS DID NOT PROSPER
They barged and butted the young Lions who won battle of Moscow
ENGLAND’S players withstood Colombia’s dirty tricks campaign as Gareth Southgate’s men were pushed to the limit in Moscow – before marching on.
The dark arts embodied by Jose Pekerman’s side cast a shadow over the last-16 tie, with six of the Colombia team earning bookings from US referee Mark Geiger.
Wilmar Barrios was lucky to escape a straight red card in the first-half for an attempted head-butt on Jordan Henderson while England prepared to take a free-kick.
Barrios received only a caution, the episode setting the ugly tone on a night when Colombia’s players and coaching staff tried every trick in the book to influence the officials and gain an advantage.
Former Chelsea winger Juan Cuadrado was next to try to rattle England, going in late on Harry Maguire as part of an orchestrated campaign of snide tactics.
There were subtle digs, late tackles and constant harassment of referee Geiger, while all the while Southgate was warning his players not to rise to the provocation, to keep their focus and cool.
But there were times when that proved too much, Henderson landing a needless booking for backing his head into an opponent, while Jesse Lingard left his foot in on one challenge.
The Colombia bench took every opportunity to put pressure on the referee, and were warned throughout by the fourth official for encroaching and trying to influence decisions.
As Raheem Sterling left the pitch at half-time one of Pekerman’s staff shoulder barged him, earning another ticking off from the fourth official.
And when Harry
Kane won a penalty in the 54th minute (right), Colombia used delaying tactics to try to put him off, sneakily scuffing the penalty spot, before Kane finally took it and scored after three minutes of shenanigans.
Former England international Chris Waddle said: “I hope Colombia get a hefty fine with whatever happens in this game. I feel sorry for the referee who should have been waving red cards instead of yellow ones.”
Kane showed superb composure to slot away the penalty after the appalling gamesmanship, and as the clock ticked down it looked to be enough to win it for England.
It was Kane’s sixth goal – and third from the spot – of the tournament and increased his lead in the race for the Golden Boot.
But Colombia snatched an equaliser in added time, defender Yerry Mina rising above Harry Maguire to power in a header to take the game into extra-time.
It was a cruel blow for England, after controlling much of the game and being so close to booking a quarter-final showdown against Sweden on Saturday.
The agonising leveller shifted all the momentum in Colombia’s favour as Southgate’s men struggled for any fluency in the 30 additional minutes.
But justice was done in the end, with Eric Dier dispatching the decisive spot-kick and England marching on to the last eight.
Sneering, unsporting Colombia will not be missed.