Japan did what no other Asian team had ever done at a World Cup — beat a South American squad on the biggest stage in soccer.

The 2-1 victory over Colombia on Tuesday in Saransk, Russia, was another surprising result in an unpredictable tournament.

A costly mistake by Colombia midfielder Carlos Sanchez in the opening minutes led to a red card and a penalty, helping Japan take an early lead. Coming in the third minute, it was the second-fastest red card in World Cup history and the first of this year’s tournament.

Yuya Osako won a bouncing ball to begin a sequence that led to the red card and the penalty. Sanchez blocked Shinji Kagawa’s shot with his extended right arm and was ejected. Kagawa then converted from the spot.

Colombia, which played with 10 men for the rest of the match, scored late in the first half on Juan Quintero’s rolling but accurate free kick, which sneaked inside the right post. Osako’s gritty determination led to a 73rd-minute header from Keisuke Honda’s corner kick that gave Japan three points in Group H.

“He played well in Germany this season,” Honda said of the Werder Bremen forward. “He also couldn’t score last World Cup, and I knew he really wanted to score this game. I’m happy he scored.”

Japan became the latest team to pull off an upset at the World Cup, joining Mexico, Switzerland and Iceland in earning unexpected results. The win was a surprise also because Japan changed coaches shortly before the tournament and because Asian teams had failed to beat South American opposition in 17 previous World Cup meetings.

“Normally you prepare a match to play 11 players against 11 and to lose one player in the first three minutes — to lose such a crucial player — that’s not an easy thing,” Colombia coach Jose Pekerman said. “In the second half, Japan adapted its style and managed to score by playing better and taking advantage of their opportunities.”

Sanchez did not speak to reporters after the match.

Japan will next face Senegal on Sunday in Yekaterinburg, while Colombia takes on Poland in Kazan on the same day.

“If we had actually won the World Cup, we would have had a parade on the main street of Saransk,” Japan coach Akira Nishino said. “However, it is just one win, three points.

“We’ll save our celebrations.”

Senegal 2, Poland 1: Senegal became the first African team to win at this year’s World Cup, defeating Poland in Moscow on a first-half own goal and a controversial second-half strike by M’baye Niang.

Senegal, back in the tournament for the first time since 2002, went ahead in the 37th minute when Thiago Cionek’s attempted block of Idrissa Gueye’s shot wrong-footed goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who was picked to start over fellow Arsenal castoff Lukasz Fabianski.

Niang, who had returned to the field from treatment, later beat Szczesny to a backpass and had an open net when he doubled the lead in the 60th.

Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and Tunisia had been outscored 6-1 as African teams started 0-4.

Grzegorz Krychowiak headed in a free kick in the 86th minute to end Poland’s streak of five straight scoreless World Cup openers.

Both teams’ stars, Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, rarely threatened in quiet World Cup debuts.

Russia 3, Egypt 1: Russia scored three goals in a 15-minute span early in the second half to set up a 3-1 win over Egypt in St. Petersburg, moving the host nation to the brink of the World Cup’s knockout stage.

Mohamed Salah won and converted a penalty for a consolation goal on his return from injury, but Egypt’s first World Cup in 28 years could be over in barely five days following a second straight loss.

Ahmed Fathi poked the ball into his own net — the fifth own goal of the tournament — to put Russia ahead in the 47th minute. Then Denis Cheryshev and Artem Dzyuba scored in quick succession to leave Russia on course for a victory that followed up a 5-0 opening-night win over Saudi Arabia.

It was Cheryshev’s third goal of the World Cup, putting him tied with Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of the scoring chart.

Russia’s place in the round of 16 will be assured if Uruguay wins or draws against the Saudis on Wednesday. Those two scenarios would also eliminate Egypt.

Egypt’s hopes were raised when Salah was selected in the starting lineup, the Liverpool forward making his comeback after 31/2 weeks out with damaged ligaments in his left shoulder. Yet from the start, it was clear that Salah was staying out of anything too physical.

Neymar in pain: Neymar limped out of Brazil’s training session in Sochi because of pain in his right ankle.

The Brazilian soccer confederation said the injury was not serious, adding Neymar left as a precaution and would be back in training Wednesday.