Roundup: Uruguay humbles host Russia to win Group A

Uruguay became the first side to nine points at the World Cup on Monday, humbling host Russia 3-0 in Samara and locking up Group A in the process.

Russia had been perhaps the most dominant of the first two rounds of group play, tallying a Cup-best plus-7 goal differential and scoring eight goals in two matches, tied for tops in the field. Uruguay, on the other hand, won each of its first two matches 1-0.

But on Monday it was all Uruguay from the start. In the second minute, Edinson Cavani found Matias Vecino just outside the box, but Vecino’s right-footed shot was just wide to the left. Seven minutes later, a foul by Russian Yuri Gazinskiy drew a yellow card and set up Uruguayan star Luis Suarez with a free kick. This time, Uruguay did not miss.

The 10th-minute goal was the second of the tournament for Suarez, who scored the lone goal in a 1-0 defeat of Saudi Arabia in the second round of group play. And it marked the beginning of what would become an ugly affair for the hosts.

In the 23rd minute, Denis Cheryshev netted an own goal to give Uruguay a 2-0 lead. Within 13 minutes, Igor Smolnikov drew two yellow cards and was shown the exit, leaving Russia a man down and ending any hopes of a comeback. Cavani’s goal in the 90th minute provided the final score.

Both teams advance to the knockout round, with Uruguay drawing Portugal and Russia drawing Spain.

Saudi Arabia 2, Egypt 1

Egyptian star and reigning Premier League scoring champion Mohamed Salah scored in the 22nd minute to open the scoring, but Saudi Arabia scored in stoppage time in each half to win the Group A matchup of teams playing their 2018 Cup finale in Volgograd.

Salman Al Faraj converted a penalty kick in the sixth minute of stoppage time to even the score just before halftime, and Salem Al-Dawsari scored the winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time after 90 minutes.

Essam El-Hadary, 45, started in net after sitting out the first two games for Egypt, becoming the oldest player in World Cup history.

Portugal 1, Iran 1

Portugal fought off a late surge from Iran to escape with a draw in Saransk and survive the group stage of the World Cup, moving on to the knockout round as the runner-up of Group B.

Ricardo Quaresma broke the scoreless draw in the 45th minute by letting fly with the outside of his right foot from beyond the right corner of the 18-yard box, curling a gorgeous shot into the top left corner beyond the reach of Iranian keeper Alireza Beiranvand.

Beiranvand kept Iran’s hopes alive in the 53rd minute by saving a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty kick, which was awarded upon video review of a tackle against Ronaldo in the box.

In stoppage time, another video review awarded Iran a penalty for a hand ball by Portuguese midfielder Cédric Soares, and Iran’s Karim Ansarifard buried it in the top right corner in the 93rd minute. Moments later, a blocked shot fell to Iran winger Mehdi Taremi in the box, but his left-footed attempt — which could have sent Iran through instead of Portugal — went wide of the near post and hit the outside of the net.

Portugal finished the group stage level with Spain at five points but lost the tiebreaker on total goals scored, making Group A winner Uruguay its next opponent. Spain will take on Group A runner-up Russia in the Round of 16.

Spain 2, Morocco 2

Iago Aspas’ stoppage-time equalizer salvaged a draw for Spain despite a terrific performance from Morocco in Kaliningrad, clinching the top spot in Group B for the Spanish.

Aspas flicked a curling cross from Daniel Carvajal with his back heel into the far corner of the net in the 91st minute, but he was originally ruled offside. Video review determined Aspas to be onside and the goal counted, leveling it at 2-2.

Morocco striker Youssef En-Nesyri had put his team ahead in the 81st minute with a bullet header into the top right corner off of a corner kick from Faycal Fajr. The effort came after several near misses by Morocco throughout the match, including a Khalid Boutaïb breakaway that was denied by Spanish keeper David De Gea and a rocket by Nordin Amrabat that rang off the upper left post.

Boutaib scored the game’s first goal in the 14th minute, getting in on goal alone after Morocco pounced on a giveaway by Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta. Iniesta atoned five minutes later, cutting a ball from the end line back to the top of the 6-yard box for Isco, who buried the equalizer in the top of the net.

Morocco entered the game with no chance of advancing to the knockout stages, but a win would have left Spain as the Group B runner up.

–Field Level Media