JUNE 14 TO JULY 15 Russia Shocks Spain Out of World Cup

Host nation, Russia secured a major upset at the ongoing World Cup final following perfect resistance as they see off former champions, Spain, out of the tournament yesterday night in Moscow.

It was Igor Akinfeev saved two spot-kicks that gave the host Russia, a 4-3 dramatic penalty shootout to reach the World Cup quarter-finals after their last-16 tie had ended 1-1 after 120 minutes.

The result also means that Spain has failed again to win against host nations on global stage with the loss to South Korea in 2002 quarter final match still fresh to football followers. It was also the first time in 48 years that Russia will reach the quarter finals of the tournament.

Match winner, Akinfeev kept out efforts by Koke and Iago Aspas as the 2010 champions - unbeaten in their previous 23 games - became the latest big-name casualty to exit the tournament after Germany, Argentina and Portugal.

His opposite number, David de Gea, got a hand to the first spot-kick he faced - from Fedor Smolov - but that was the closest he came to making a save as the Russians converted their remaining penalties in clinical fashion.

Spain had taken the lead when Marco Asensio’s curling free-kick into the six-yard area hit the ankle of Sergei Ignashevich, who was marking Sergio Ramos, and flew into the net.

Spain dominated possession but were unable to make it count and were punished when Russia were awarded a penalty.

Gerard Pique handled Artem Dzyuba’s header and the Zenit St Petersburg forward sent David de Gea the wrong way for his third goal of the tournament.

Stanislav Cherchesov’s side, at 70 the lowest ranked team in the competition and 60 places below Spain, now face Croatia or Denmark in the last eight in Sochi on Saturday.

Their unlikely progress is a reward for their resolute defending for most of the 120 minutes of play and should reflect the part played by their thousands of fans who roared them on throughout their defensive masterclass.

Admittedly there were few signs of the Spanish struggles to come when Sergey Ignashevich inadvertently gave Fernando Hierro’s side a a 12th-minute lead.

The veteran Russian defender, who turns 39 later this month, put through his own net as he tried to stop Sergio Ramos reaching Marco Asensio’s free-kick at the far post.

But Spain failed to turn their overwhelming dominance of possession into further chances and paid the price before half-time, when Artem Dzyuba’s header from a corner hit Gerard Pique’s outstretched arm.

Dzyuba stepped up himself to send De Gea the wrong way from the spot and the stadium went wild, not for the last time on a tumultuous evening.

The pattern of play did not change after the break, with Spain trying to pass their way through the ranks of Russia’s packed defence, but lacking the imagination to fashion a serious shooting chance.

Only Andres Iniesta threatened to break the deadlock for Spain when he was belatedly summoned from the bench and the volume inside the Luzhniki increased as the Russian fans sensed their side could cling on.

When Spain did manage a sight of goal, at the start of the second period of extra-time, Akinfeev denied Rodrigo to ensure the game would go to penalties, where he would have the final say.

Russia were seen as no-hopers by most observers when this tournament began, when even getting out of their group for the first time since the end of the Soviet era had been seen as beyond them.

Many of their supporters outside the stadium were still writing them off before this game started, but instead they saw the hosts become the first Russian side to reach the quarter-finals of a World Cup since Mexico 1970.

That was the era of the legendary Lev Yashin, so it was fitting that another goalkeeper, Akinfeev, should play the biggest part here in this memorable triumph.

Russia’s captain is 32 and was winning his 111th cap but this was his greatest performance of all, and on the biggest stage.

His side’s determined defending meant he was tested by few of Spain’s 24 shots but he showed brilliant reactions to keep out Jordi Alba’s effort, got down smartly to save Iniesta’s first-time shot and then blocked Rodrigo when he danced through.

In the shootout too, he produced saves when it mattered - first by plunging to his right to push away Koke’s tame effort, then sealing victory with his trailing leg when Aspas fired his penalty straight down the middle.

Spain simply ran out of ideas, joining as other giants to make ignominious early exits, and leaving England, Colombia, Sweden and Switzerland as other potential benefactors in what appears a wide open half of the draw.