Colombia vs Japan: The match in pictures

A thrilling match ensued between between Colombia and Japan after an early red card reduced Colombia to 10 men, in the Group H opener.

Colombia took on Japan in the Group H opener at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk.

Colombian fans fired-up the pre-match atmosphere at the stadium.

As did the Japanese, who turned up in an equally huge number. A buzzing stadium was the result.

James Rodriguez, 2014's top scorer and Colombia's talisman, was left out of the starting XI because of a calf injury.

Calamity struck Colombia almost immediately! Carlos Sanchez was sent off in the third minute for handling the ball. The infringement was in the box. PENALTY! And the second fastest red card in World Cup history.

Shinji Kagawa stepped-up to take the penalty. Tensions rise.

GOAL! 6' David Ospina went the wrong way as Shinji Kagawa slotted it in the right-hand corner. And like that, Kagawa scored the 10th penalty of this year's World Cup.

Radamel Falcao won a free kick at the edge of the box, leaving it perfectly positioned for left-footed Juan Quintero.

GOAL! 39' Quintero took a low free-kick that the keeper tried to keep out but it had already gone in. Just crossed the line. Quintero's goal was the fourth free-kick scored in this year's world cup.

GOAL! 73' Japan won a corner and striker Yuya Osako was first one to the ball, heading it past Colombia keeper David Ospina.

Osaka's goal that put Japan in front was the sixth consecutive goal that came from a set-piece this world cup. 3 corners, 2 penalties, 1 free-kick.

And FULL TIME! Japan 2- Colombia 1 Japan became the first-ever Asian team to beat a South American side in the world cup. (P18 W1 D3 L14)

Despite bringing on James Rodriguez in the second half and threatening to level the scores many times, it was one man too less as it succumbed to a 2-1 defeat.

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Colombia took on Japan in the Group H opener at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk.