Second-half substitute Keisuke Honda scored a late goal as Japan twice came from behind to clinch a 2-2 draw with Senegal in their World Cup Group H match in Yekaterinburg on Sunday.

The Senegalese came out firing on all cylinders from the word go and got into the lead in the 11th minute as Sadio Mane exploited Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima’s failure to grasp the ball. However, Takashi Inui cancelled Mane’s opener with a superb assist from Yuto Nagatomo before Moussa Wagner gave Senegal the lead with 19 minutes remaining. But it was former AC Milan winger Honda who drew his side level by firing in from close-range, only six minutes after replacing Shinji Kagawa.

The result leaves both teams on four points from two matches and left the group wide open ahead of Thursday's last round of matches.

Japan coach Akira Nishino said after the hard-fought draw, “We fought to the death.”

“Naturally we wanted to win but the way the team came from behind twice shows how much we have improved in attack. But we still want to see it out and win our last game.”

Meanwhile, his Senegal Senegalese counterpart, coach Aliou Cisse was not so happy, admitting that his team did not deserve to win.

 “We were not very good frankly, and Japan were the better team, I have to admit that,” Cisse said. “But despite that fact, we led twice and what's annoying for me is the two goals we conceded,” he added.

Later, Poland became the first European team to have failed to make it to the knockout stage of the ongoing World Cup after losing to Colombia 3-0 in their second Group H match in the Kazan Arena on Sunday.

Star player James Rodriguez, who was fielded as a second-half substitute in Colombia's opening match against Japan due to injury, was among the starters and was the architect behind the first and third goal against Poland as his well-placed chips helped his teammates Yerry Mina and Juan Cuadrado to score the two important goals respectively.

Veteran striker Radamel Falcao, who missed the Brazil 2014 World Cup due to injury, netted his first-ever World Cup goal as he scored Colombia's second goal in the 70th minute.

It was a must-win game for both the sides as the Latin American side lost their opening game against Japan while Poland were beaten by Senegal in their tournament opener.

Colombia suffered a blow early in the first half when Abel Aguilar was forced off by an injury and Mateus Uribe took his place in the 32nd minute. The South Americans got their first breakthrough in the 40th minute when Mina leaped high and headed home a meticulously executed cross from Rodriguez. 

Ace striker Falcao made it 2-0 when he blasted a low shot into the net past the diving Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny in the 70th minute. Five minutes later, Cuadrado got himself into the scoring sheet after slotting a pass from Rodriguez into the net calmly.

As Japan and Senegal drew 2-2 in the other Group H match earlier on Sunday, the two sides tie on four points while Colombia have three while Poland are sent packing after two losses.

Colombia coach Jose Pekerman dedicated the morale-boosting victory to midfielder Carlos Sanchez, who was sent off in their opening match against Japan and received a death threat.

“This victory is dedicated to Carlos Sanchez, who has had a hard time over the past few days. I want to share this victory with him, and this is something all our players feel," said the 68-year-old.

(With input from agencies)