Heartbreak for the Cup hosts
URUGUAY burnished their World Cup credentials with a 3-0 victory over 10-man Russia yesterday, finishing top of Group A with a perfect record, while dampening the hopes of the tournament hosts, who had to settle for second.
Luis Suarez grabbed his second goal of the tournament to open Uruguay’s account with a free-kick after 10 minutes, and they doubled the lead with an own goal from Russia’s Denis Cheryshev soon after.
That silenced a home crowd who had been in party mode after Russia’s opening two victories, and were not expecting their final group contest to be effectively ended in the 36th minute when Igor Smolnikov was sent off for a second booking.
Edinson Cavani bundled home a third goal for Uruguay at the death to wrap up their third straight victory
Russia will now have to face the winners of Group B in the last 16.
Uruguay, who kept their sixth straight clean sheet, will face the runners-up from that group, which will be decided when Spain, Portugal and Iran battled it out for two last-16 spots late yesterday.
While Russia confounded those who predicted a group stage exit with victories over Saudi Arabia and Egypt, there was still a question mark over how they would perform when they faced stronger opposition.
Smolnikov’s sending off may have ended Russia’s hopes but the encounter had already swung against them by that point.
They went behind when Suarez struck a low free-kick into the bottom corner that should have been easy pickings for keeper Igor Akinfeev.
Sadly for the home fans, Akinfeev inexplicably vacated his bottom left corner, leaving space for Suarez to stroke the ball home.
It was Suarez’s second of the tournament and seventh World Cup goal overall for Uruguay, with only Oscar Miguez having scored more for the South Americans with eight.
Russia doubled their lead in the 23rd minute when Diego Laxalt’s shot from the edge deflected off Cheryshev, leaving Akinfeev wrong-footed.
It should have been 3-0 before Smolnikov departed, but Akinfeev made a good save to deny Rodrigo Bentancur.
Uruguay only added to their lead in the 90th minute when Cavani finished from close-range.
Russia battled valiantly and had a penalty appeal turned down after a VAR consultation late in the game, but there was little else to cheer the home fans.
●Late yesterday Spain and Morocco’s heated game ended in a 2-2 draw which saw Spain take home the Group B win while Iran and Portugal also drew, after Karim Ansarifard equalized on a penalty kick in stoppage time after a hand ball by Portugal, but a 1-1 draw still eliminates Iran from the World Cup. —