World Cup: Senegal beats Poland 2-1 in Group H

June 19 (UPI) -- Senegal capitalized on several Poland mistakes en route to a 2-1 victory in a Group H World Cup clash Tuesday at Spartak Stadium in Moscow.

Poland faced a 1-0 deficit in the 37th minute due to a blunder by the defense. Sadio Mane passed to Idrissa Gueye on the play, before Gueye took a rip from outside the box. The shot was deflected by Poland's Thiago Cionek and went past keeper Wojciech Szczesny for the game's first score.

Senegal held the 1-0 edge through the halftime whistle, before capitalizing on yet another error by Poland.

That time, the defense lost track of Senegal substitution M'Baye Niang. The forward came onto the field from the sideline in the 75th minute, replacing Pape Moussa Konate. He ran onto the pitch as all of the players were looking at Poland's goal and playing with the ball with a series of headers.

Niang lurked until Poland played the ball back to its own defense and goalkeeper. Niang out-sprinted Jan Bednarek on the loose ball and touched it over Szczesny before finishing with his right foot.

But Poland made it a game in the 86th minute, scoring off a free kick. Kamil Grosicki lined up for the kick from about 40 yards out. He sent a bender toward the far post, where Grzegorz Krychowiak headed in a score past Senegal keeper Khadim N'Diaye.

N'Diaye stood strong through stoppage time as Senegal ran out the clock to preserve the victory.

Japan and Senegal are tied atop Group H, while Poland and Colombia sit at the bottom of the group through one round of games.

Senegal and Japan face off at 11 a.m. Sunday in Yekaterinburg. Poland and Colombia play at 2 p.m. Sunday in Kazan.