Clinical Uruguay expose hosts for what they are
Keshav would love to play all three formats for the Proteas
SAMARA: Hosts Russia and their expectant fans were given a brutal reality check yesterday when Uruguay exposed the weaknesses in the side that had been papered over in the uplifting victories over weak Egypt and Saudi Arabia in World Cup Group A.
The South Americans outclassed the hosts in every department to cruise to a 3-0 victory, secure top spot in the group with three wins and send their hapless opponents back to the drawing board ahead of the knockout stage.
The Russians, playing with 10 men for almost an hour, had no chance against the first strong team they had encountered in the tournament, after their early wins had created the impression they could go far.
Uruguay, controlling possession and playing the ball around confidently, exposed the hosts for what they are – the lowest-ranked team in this World Cup.
The Russian defence constantly struggled with the speed of Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez, proven talents on the world stage as opposed to the Saudi and Egyptian players the Russians had put eight goals past.
In attack, their firepower was concentrated in the solitary frustrated figure of Artem Dzyuba, who pleaded desperately with his teammates for more accurate passing and delivery as they wasted every single set piece, either too wide or too long.
But Dzyuba is not a striker capable of turning a match single-handedly like Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo or Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku, and he was beaten in every aerial battle by world-class defender Diego Godin.
Meanwhile, the Uruguayan machine, so well oiled by Oscar Tabarez even after making four changes to the team that beat the Saudis, delivered a lesson in efficient attacking football, with battling Rodrigo Betancur orchestrating their fluid game.
Two goals in the first 23 minutes and a red card for Russia a little later killed off the game early.
Russia were badly missing their own midfield ace Aleksandr Golovin, rested for fear of another booking that could have seen him miss the next game.
Coach Stanislav Cherchesov had made two more changes but they also backfired spectacularly, with Igor Smolnikov sent off in the 36th minute after a second booking, and Fyodor Kudryashov equally overworked in defence.
While Uruguay are brimming with confidence after keeping a clean sheet in a three-match World Cup group stage for only the second time, Russia must somehow bounce back fast if they are not to exit the tournament much quicker than a nation dreams of.
Saudi Arabia pulled off a last-gasp 2-1 win over Egypt as the two sides departed from Russia yesterday, with the Saudis notching their first World Cup victory since 1994 and adding to the misery of Egypt’s prolific striker Mohamed Salah.
The Liverpool forward put Egypt ahead but wasted a golden opportunity to double the lead, giving Saudi Arabia the chance to claw their way back into the game that was settled by a 95th-minute winner by midfielder Salem Al-Dawsari.
The result meant Saudi Arabia finished third in Group A as they scored their only goals of the tournament and vastly improved on a 5-0 thrashing by hosts Russia in their opening game.
Egypt finished in last place with no points, a result likely to heap pressure on Argentine coach Hector Cuper.
It was a sad send-off for Salah, who missed the opening game of the tournament with the injury he picked up during Liverpool’s Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid in May.
Both sides were already packing their bags before they met in the heat of the Volgograd Arena, having failed to pick up a single point between them in their previous group matches.
Nonetheless, Egypt’s hordes of supporters roared on Salah whenever he got near the ball and he opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when he raced on to Abdallah Said’s long pass and kept his cool to lob Saudi goalkeeper Yasser Al-Mosailem.
That was Salah’s second goal in the two games in Russia and he should have had another almost immediately but somehow missed when put clean through.
He was made to pay for the wasted opportunity deep into first-half stoppage time when Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan awarded Saudi Arabia a penalty and Salman Al-Faraj converted from the spot.
Minutes earlier, Egyptian keeper Essam El-Hadary had marked his record-breaking appearance as the oldest player to play at a World Cup at 45 years of age with a spectacular save from another penalty, diving to his right and sticking out his left hand to shove Fahad Al-Muwallad’s strike on to the bar and away.
Saudi Arabia pressed for a winner in the second half but the game appeared to be heading for a 1-1 draw – which would have meant Egypt finished third in the group – until Abdullah Otayf teed up Al-Dawsari to angle his shot past El-Hadary. – Reuters