Favorable replay review lifts Spain to top spot
It took a video review of an injury-time equalizer to give Spain first place in its World Cup group.
Spain substitute Iago Aspas scored the late goal Monday in a 2-2 draw with Morocco. His clever deflection off a cross from Dani Carvajal was initially disallowed for offside, but the video assistant referee overruled the call at Kaliningrad Stadium.
“Until the last minute, we weren’t sure who was going to finish first and second,” Spain coach Fernando Hierro said. “And I have to say we were lucky to finish first.”
The decision set off a touchline melee among players from both sides.
Hierro took over as Spain coach on the eve of the World Cup when Julen Lopetegui was fired after taking the job at Real Madrid. Now he is heading to the World Cup’s knockout stage.
“Obviously we can improve,” Hierro said. “Five goals in three matches, that is not the way forward. That is what I have told my players, and they understand that.”
A rare mix-up by Andres Iniesta and Sergio Ramos gifted Morocco its first goal of the World Cup, with Khalid Boutaib pouncing on the loose ball and scoring in the 14th minute. Iniesta made amends five minutes later by setting up Isco at the other end with a clever cutback pass to bring Spain level at halftime.
Youssef En Nesyri then headed in a goal in the 81st minute to give already-eliminated Morocco hope of a victory.
“We would have loved to win over Spain,” Morocco coach Herve Renard said. “This is why we came here tonight. We suffered, just like any other team who takes on Spain. When you look at the lineup, it’s a mix of Real Madrid and Barca, so these are outstanding players.”
With Portugal also drawing with Iran, Spain progressed as Group B winner because it scored more goals. Next up, Spain plays Russia on Sunday in Moscow, and Portugal plays Uruguay in Sochi on Saturday.
Saudia Arabia 2, Egypt 1: The oldest person to play in a World Cup match let in a pair of goals in a game between two already-eliminated teams. Egypt goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary took the field for his team’s final group game to set the record at 45 years old. He saved one penalty but couldn’t lead his team to victory in Volgograd.“I am very sorry for the fans, for everyone in Egypt,” El-Hadary said. “I want to thank my teammates. It was a great honor for me to play.”
Salem Al-Dawsari scored the winner for the Saudis with almost the last kick of the game, volleying past ElHadary from a tight angle inside the Egypt penalty area.
Mohamed Salah, playing for the second time since injuring his left shoulder in last month’s Champions League final, had put Egypt ahead in the 22nd minute after deftly controlling a long ball from Abdallah Said.
It was Salah’s second goal at the World Cup, and Egypt’s first in open play at the World Cup since 1934.
Uruguay 3, Russia 0: Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani scored a goal each and Uruguay went on to shut out Russia in Samara. The Uruguayans finished undefeated in their group and handed the host nation its first loss of the World Cup. 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.
Iran 1, Portugal 1: Cristiano Ronaldo’s missed penalty kick cost Portugal first place in its World Cup group. Portugal finished second in Group B after a draw with Iran in Saransk. Midfielder Ricardo Quaresma, 34, started for the first time in the tournament for Portugal and scored his maiden World Cup goal with a shot that had about as much f lare as any in the tournament.