Rude guest: Uruguay squashes Russia
Team leads Group A; Saudi Arabia defeats Egypt with late score
SAMARA, Russia — Luis Suarez finally got rattled at this year’s World Cup.
Sitting at the podium in the postmatch news conference following Uruguay’s 3-0 victory over Russia, a reporter asked why he often wore a sad expression.
Suarez tossed aside his translation headphones, then said: “What a waste of time. Next question please.”
Other than that, Suarez has been on his best behavior in Russia, scoring twice as Uruguay swept through the group stage with three straight victories — sending the two-time champions to the knockout round for the third straight World Cup.
Edinson Cavani also scored Monday against the host nation.
Both teams were already assured of spots in the knockout round, but Uruguay’s victory put it at the top of Group A and looking toward a match in Sochi on Saturday against Portugal.
Uruguay, which also benefited from an own-goal in the first half, had its third straight shutout of the tournament after consecutive 1-0 victories over Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The Uruguayans and goalkeeper Fernando Muslera have not allowed a goal in any of the team’s six matches this year.
“After winning the first two match- es 1-0, our goal was to get another,” Suarez said. “We wanted to play the same we had before, only better.”
By advancing to the round of 16 with victories over Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Russia secured its best World Cup showing in the post-soviet era.
In Volgograd, Russia, the oldest person to play in a World Cup match made some spectacular saves Monday. He also watched two go past him.
Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, 45, took the field for his team’s final group match. Although he saved one penalty, he couldn’t stop Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia 2, Egypt 1 —
from winning 2-1 in a game between two teams that had already been eliminated.
“I am very sorry for the fans, for everyone in Egypt,” El Hadary said.
Salem Aldawsari scored the winner for the Saudis with almost the last kick of the match.
Mohamed Salah, playing for the second time since injuring his shoulder last month, had put Egypt ahead in the 22nd minute after deftly controlling a long ball from Abdalla Said and then lobbing goalkeeper Yasser Almosailem.
It was Salah’s second goal at the
World Cup.
Salman Alfaraj got the Saudis level with a penalty kick in first-half stoppage time after Ali Gabr brought down Fahad Almuwallad in the area. The decision was confirmed after a video review and the penalty was taken in the sixth minute of injury time.
“I think that in general we kept control of the pace, we kept possession … and I think that we deserved to win,” Saudi coach Juan Antonio Pizzi said. “Talking about the future, well, the association will have to decide what they’re going to do.”
Almuwallad had earlier missed a chance to equalize when El Hadary saved his penalty. The veteran goalkeeper dived to his right and flicked his left hand up to push the shot onto the bar before it was cleared.