World Cup 2018: Uruguay and Russia got to know the rivals in the playoffs
June 26, 2018 | 03:01 |2499
Victor KARDASHOV
URUGUAY - RUSSIA - 3:0
June 25 began the third round of the group stage of the World Cup and, according to the regulations, teams representing one quartet, started their matches at one time. In group A, it was the meetings of Uruguay - Russia and Saudi Arabia - Egypt. At the "Samara Arena" already on the 10th minute, Luis Suárez opened the score in the opposition, superbly striking with a free kick. Two minutes later, Cheryshev could equal, but the Uruguayan goalkeeper coped.
Well, on the 23rd minute, "Celeste" doubled the advantage, with the help of an own goal, which was recorded on Cheryshev.
In the second half of the meeting World Cup masters looked more interesting, but they could not finish their attacks with a goal capture. And at the last minute of the match the South Americans won, scoring the third goal in the Russian team's gates. On the scoreboard of the stadium the author of the goal was Edinson Cavani from the French "PSG".
As a result, the Uruguayan team ranks first in the group, while the Russians remain second. Both teams are waiting for their opponents in the playoffs, which will be determined in the evening matches of Group B.
SAUDI ARABIA - EGYPT - 2:1
This match had no tournament significance, but nevertheless both teams came to the fight with all responsibility. At the 22nd minute of the meeting, Mohammed Salah opened the scoring by overcoming the goalkeeper of the "green falcons". 1:0 in favor of Egypt.
At the 40th minute, the Saudis missed a chance to level the score from a penalty spot – perfect game by goalkeeper of "Pharaohs" Essam El-Hadari.
But still in the first half, Saudi Arabia scores from eleven-meter. This happens on the fifth (!), added to the first half, minute. The goal is recorded on the account of Al Faraj.
The whole second half of the meeting held a draw, but in extra time the Saudis are snatching victory. 2:1.
IRAN - PORTUGAL - 1:1
At the stadium "Mordovia Arena" Iran needed to win to go to the next stage of the 21st World Cup in Russia. The onslaught of Portugal was very strong from the very beginning of the match, but by the middle of the first half the Iranian team corrected the situation and began to conduct very dangerous counterattacks. Less than fifteen minutes remains for the players to play in the first half, and on the stadium scoreboard still shows zeros. Throughout the first half of the meeting, the "Persian leopards" kept a stiff, but in the last minute of the half, Ricardo Quaresma of "Besiktas" scored a goal for the European Brazilians, immediately followed by a whistle for a break of Paraguayan referee Enrique Caceres.
The second half began in the same compositions, without substitutions. And already in the 49th minute the Portuguese national team gets the right to break through the penalty. Ezatolahi violates the rules on Cristiano Ronaldo. The victim himself undertakes to execute a free-kick, runs and .... What's going on here at the stadium? The Persian goalkeeper guesses the direction of the strike and beats the ball away from himself. Fantastic!
And already on emotions Serdar Azmun received a yellow card from a judge from Paraguay.
Another half hour to play in this match and absolutely nothing is clear. Iran is in the game and Iran is pressing. And in a parallel match the Spaniards still can not come forward in the match against the Moroccans and thus concede an intermediate first place to the team of Ronaldo. But the "Persian leopards" need only win to leave the group.
Fifteen minutes before the end of the match, the Iranians are already using all their replacements. Their opponents have so far only held one.
At the 83rd minute, Ronaldo received a yellow card, although he most likely deserved to be removed. The team will play six minutes in excess of normal time. And immediately the Iranians get the right to penetrate the 11-meter. There is a chance! Ansarifard from Olympiakos is impeccable. The Iranian team compares the score and theoretically is already in the playoffs. But ... in the second match of Group B the Spaniards, who before losing during the meeting, in extra time compare the score and again find themselves in the first place in the quartet. "Persian leopards" must score again ...
And they almost do it! Mehdi had a great moment, but the ball hit the net from the outside. The referee whistle and the Portuguese national team are leaving the group with the second place, while the Iranian athletes remain outside the World Cup. The Pyrenees will play in the eighth finals of the 2018 World Cup with the Uruguayan team.
SPAIN - MOROCCO - 2:2
It seemed that in this meeting the favorite is known in advance. In addition, Morocco should not have sufficient motivation. Nevertheless, it was the "Atlas lions" who opened the account in the 14th minute with the efforts of Khalid Butaib. On the 19th minute midfielder of Madrid "Real" Isko restores parity, putting the ball under the crossbar. At the 25th minute, Africans could go ahead, but Butaib could not beat the goalkeeper of the "red fury" David De Gea. And the first half of our match ended. The Spaniards could not do anything with the team from Africa, and in the meantime their direct competitors - the Portuguese national team - led in the score, and they are now the leaders of group B. Teams had some rest in the locker rooms and go back to the field in Kaliningrad.
The Spaniards began the second part of the meeting calmly - they roll the ball in their half of the field and reflect. About what? Apparently, about how to get to the gate of the Moroccan team. While they do not succeed. By the middle of the half, the moments of the "red fury" are incommensurably greater, but the Pyrenees can not score yet.
Minutes and seconds are inexorably melting. The account is tied. And here on the 82nd minute the Morocco team comes forward! Youssef En-Nesiri, the player of "Malaga", overacts Sergio Ramos and precisely beats in the near corner. Wow! A player who came on as a substitute scores, which means that the tactic of the French mentor of Moroccans Hervé Renard worked by 100%.
Ravshan Irmatov from Uzbekistan added four minutes. And then the Spaniards are scoring, but ... the referee does not count the ball. And on the third extra minute the score of the "red fury" is equal. Iago Aspas from "Selta" after the filing of the corner is accurate. 2:2.
That’s all! The match is over and the Spanish team goes to the playoffs from the first place and will play against the Russian team.
June 26, it's time for the third round of the group stage for the teams from the quartets C and D. France and Croatia have already deserved to enter the playoffs, and who will join them will become known on the next day of the 21st World Cup in Russia.
