Colombia's opening game against Japan in the World Cup should have been a straight-forward affair, but things quickly got complicated for the South American side shortly after kick-off. However, they found themselves trailing with one man down after only a few minutes.
After approximately three minutes of play, the Asian side was awarded a penalty after Carlos Sanchez stopped a goalbound shot with his arm in the penalty box. The defensive midfielder was subsequently given a straight red card.
Shinji Kagawa stepped up for the Samurai Blue and converted from the spot to march into an early lead. As for the 32-year-old who was given his marching orders, he set two feats in Tuesday's showdown.
Firstly, the Cafeteros man became the first player to be shown a red card in the 2018 World Cup. Those who bet on Sergio Ramos receiving that honor will have been disappointed.
Carlos Sánchez is the first player to be shown a red card at the 2018 #WorldCup.
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) June 19, 2018
Worst possible start. pic.twitter.com/tnhO2yCqRp
Secondly, his dismissal is now the second fastest in World Cup history. Sanchez took only two minutes and 56 seconds to be sent off, which is a record bested only by Uruguay's Jose Alberto Batista in the 1986 edition ( 54 seconds vs Scotland).
02:56 - Carlos Sanchez's red card after two minutes and 56 seconds is the second fastest shown in World Cup history, after Jose Alberto Batista for Uruguay vs Scotland in 1986 (54 seconds). Handed. #COL #COLJPN #WorldCup
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 19, 2018
And of course, there were those who trolled Carlos for his extremely short cameo. Check out a few interesting tweets below.
Welcome to the World Cup, Carlos Sanchez! #COLvJPN pic.twitter.com/jFIGuPhb13
— Avi Creditor (@AviCreditor) June 19, 2018
GOOOOAAAALLLL!!!
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) June 19, 2018
Japan take an early lead thanks to Carlos Sanchez and a very cool penalty! pic.twitter.com/rKzpvlssEy
Carlos Sanchez is 32 years old. I know there's instinct and adrenaline, but saving a goalbound shot with your hand in an age of VAR just minutes into a WC game is the ultimate bonehead play.
— Gabriele Marcotti (@Marcotti) June 19, 2018
Colombia's World Cup fixtures