Roundup: Uruguay knocks out Portugal, Ronaldo

Edinson Cavani scored a pair of goals to lift Uruguay to a 2-1 win over Portugal in a Round of 16 knockout matchup in Sochi, Russia.

Cavani provided Uruguay with an early lead when he headed a shot past Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio in the seventh minute. The lead held up until the 55th minute, when Portugal’s Pepe also relied on a header to redirect a shot into the net and even the score at 1.

In the 62nd minute, Cavani put Uruguay back on top for good. He timed his steps and blasted a curling shot into the back right corner of the net.

The defeat marked another abrupt exit for Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who at 33 years old might have played in his final World Cup competition. Frustrations boiled over for Ronaldo, who drew a yellow card during stoppage time and would have missed the next match if Portugal advanced.

France 4, Argentina 3

A flurry of three goals in little more than 10 minutes in the second half lifted France past Argentina in the knockout round in Kazan, Russia.

Kylian Mbappé provided the heroics for the French, scoring from up close in the 64th and 68th minutes, the second being the difference in the match. Argentina scored midway through stoppage time, but could not find the net again in the match’s final two minutes.

The loss could also mean the end of Argentinian star Lionel Messi’s World Cup career. He did not score in the match Saturday — he has never scored a goal in a World Cup knockout-round match — but did set up his side’s final two goals, including the stoppage-time header by Sergio Agüero.

France will meet Uruguay on July 6 for the chance to advance to the tournament’s final four.

–Field Level Media