The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Shoot-out shock.
Goalkeeper Akinfeev stars as Russia edge out Hierro’s men to reach quarter-final SPAIN 1 RUSSIA 1 AFTER EXTRA TIME RUSSIA WIN 4-3 ON PENALTIES
Spain joined the list of illustrious names making early World Cup exits after hosts Russia beat them in a penalty shoot-out at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium yesterday. Keeper Igor Akinfeev saves Iago Aspas’s penalty to send the host nation into the quarter-finals.
Russia captain Igor Akinfeev was the hero as the hosts stunned Spain in a penalty shoot-out after they played out a 1-1 draw at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.
Akinfeev had already made good saves as Russia held on to force extratime and spot-kicks, but he then saved from Koke and Iago Aspas in the shootout.
It was a remarkable finale to a game Spain dominated in terms of possession but simply did not do enough to win and Russia can now look forward to a quarter-final on Saturday in Sochi against Croatia.
Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov dropped Spanish-based winger Denis Cheryshev and went with five at the back. The limitations of this became obvious when Aleksandr Golovin scampered down the wing in the fourth minute but had nobody to cross to.
Spain, meanwhile, passed and passed and passed. And then in the 11th minute, right-back Nacho was fouled just outside the box, giving Marco Asensio the chance to deliver a ball into the box. The Real Madrid star’s delivery was good, and as Sergey Ignashevich wrestled Sergio Ramos to the floor, the ball cannoned off his heel for a comical own goal.
The 2010 world champions continued to pass, creating little. In contrast, the Russians were roused.
On 41 minutes, Ramos scuffed a clearance to give Russia their third corner.
It was delivered to Artem Dzyuba, who met it firmly with his head only for Gerard Pique to bat it down, volleyball style. The crowd roared, Pique howled, the referee pointed to the spot and the VAR whispered its approval.
Dzyuba smashed the ball home for the game’s first shot on target and his third goal of the tournament.
Spain finished the half with a burst of activity, registering a couple of efforts, but the next 40 minutes were turgid, a state of affairs not helped by the 25 degree temperature.
Cherchesov tried to freshen things up by bringing on Cheryshev and swapping the tiring Dzyuba for Fedor Smolov, while Spain coach Fernando Hierro called for Andres Iniesta and Aspas.
And it was those two who nearly won it for Spain with five minutes to go, when first Iniesta and then Aspas fired shots at Akinfeev’s goal, only for the skipper to parry both away.
That was the last action of regular time, which meant Spain had still not beaten a host nation at a major tournament in 90 minutes. They had, however, out-passed the home side 845 to 224.
Six minutes in Russia took advantage of the new rule allowing a fourth sub in extra-time, bringing on history-maker Aleksandr Erokhin to help some tired legs in midfield.
Spain soon made their fourth change, too, introducing Valencia forward Rodrigo and he nearly won it five minutes later, when he beat his man with a dummy, sprinted into the box and fired a shot Akinfeev did well to save.
Spain’s players bayed for VAR after more grappling in the box. The noise that erupted when the referee finally waved play on was immense but was capped by the roar that greeted the final whistle and penalties.
Iniesta stepped up first and scored, Smolov replied but David De Gea got a fingertip to it. Pique scored his and Ignashevich, who was superb after his own goal, coolly replied.
Akinfeev then saved Koke’s effort, before Golovin, Ramos and Cheryshev scored theirs, meaning Aspas had to score. He did not and Russia went wild.