Uruguay shuts out Russia, 3-0

Uruguay won Group A at soccer’s World Cup with its third straight shutout of the tournament, beating host Russia, 3-0, in Samara on Monday. Both had already won advancement to the round of 16.

Luis Suarez opened the scoring for Uruguay in the 10th minute, when he sent a free kick from inches outside the box perfectly into the corner of the net.

In the 23rd minute, Diego Laxalt tried a long-range shot. It caromed off Denis Cheryshev, of Russia, changed directions sharply and hit the net. It was ruled an own goal.

Russia’s chance to come back dimmed badly when it was reduced to 10 men after Igor Smolnikov got a second yellow card for tripping.

Uruguay exploited its man advantage in the second half, before finally getting a third goal in injury time. Edinson Cavani jumped on a rebound and scored to make it a 3-0 final.

After two hard-fought 1-0 wins, it was a welcome goal deluge for Uruguay.

These teams could each face stern opposition in the next round: probably Spain and Portugal.

In the group’s other game between two eliminated teams, Saudi Arabia defeated Egypt, 2-1.

Russia endured its first rough day at the World Cup: a three-goal loss and a red card. But the result is notable in that Uruguay — much more than Saudi Arabia or Egypt, the two teams it had faced first — is the kind of team Russia will see in the knockout rounds. Spain and Portugal are their likeliest opponents, and they surely won’t be any easier to play than Uruguay was.