Hosts of honor
Russia tops Egypt to continue dream start
Two wins, eight goals and almost certainly a place in the knockout stage for the first time since the Soviet era. Russia is enjoying quite the party at its own World Cup, and not even the highly anticipated return of Mohamed Salah could slow it down yesterday.
Confounding grim pretournament predictions, the host nation earned a second straight emphatic victory to start the group stage by beating Egypt 3-1 in Group A play in St. Petersburg, Russia. Having already routed Saudi Arabia 5-0, Russia is likely to be celebrating a spot in the round of 16 by tonight, and few could have seen that happening so soon.
The Russians started the World Cup as the lowestranked team at the tournament at No. 70, but they aren’t playing like it.
Three goals in a 15-minute span early in the second half did the damage against Egypt, with Ahmed Fathi poking the ball into his own net — the fifth owngoal of the tournament — to put Russia ahead in the 47th minute. Denis Cheryshev, with his third goal of the World Cup, and striker Artyom Dzyuba then scored in quick succession before Salah won and converted a consolation penalty in his first game back after 31⁄2 weeks out with a shoulder injury.
Egypt’s first World Cup in 28 years could be over in barely five days, while Russia’s place in the round of 16 will be assured if Uruguay wins or draws against the Saudis today.
Those two scenarios would also eliminate Egypt.
Japan 2, Colombia 1 — Yuya Osako had a surprise in store for those who thought the absence of Shinji Okazaki left Japan little hope of competing with Colombia at the World Cup.
Oasko’s gritty determination to set up one goal and his 73rd-minute header from Keisuke Honda’s corner kick lifted Japan to a surprising victory over the Colombians in Group H play in Saransk, Russia.
Colombia had to play all but the opening minutes with 10 men after Carlos Sanchez received a red card for blocking Kagawa’s shot on goal with his extended right arm.
Columbia equalized late in the first half on Juan Quintero’s rolling but accurate free kick, which sneaked inside the right post.
Senegal 2, Poland 1 — Senegal became the first African team to win at this year’s World Cup, defeating Poland yesterday in Moscow on a first-half own-goal and a controversial second-half score by Mbaye Niang.
Senegal, back in the tournament for the first time since 2002, went ahead in the 37th minute when Thiago Cionek’s attempted block of Idrissa Gueye’s shot wrong-footed goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who was picked to start over fellow Arsenal castoff Lukasz Fabianski.
Niang, who returned to the field from treatment, later beat Szczesny to double the lead in the 60th.
Grzegorz Krychowiak, whose back pass led to Senegal’s second goal, headed in a free kick in the 86th minute to end Poland’s streak of five straight scoreless World Cup openers.
Senegal is tied for the group lead with Japan, which upset Colombia 2-1 earlier. Senegal will play Japan on Sunday, when Poland meets Colombia.