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Home , Denis Cheryshev, Yuri Zhirkov

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2018

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SAINT PETERSBURG: Egypt’s defender Ali Gabr (C) controls the ball during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group A football match between Russia and Egypt at the Stadium in Saint Petersburg yesterday. — AFP Russia sour Salah’s return from injury Hosts Russia on brink of knockout stage after win over Egypt

SAINT PETERSBURG: The return of Mohamed Salah the ground by Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos in the left-back wasn’t afraid to test his fitness with they have the quality to trouble more fancied nations with from injury couldn’t prevent World Cup hosts Russia virtu- Champions League final just over three weeks ago. a series of robust challenges. a brilliantly worked second that was swept home by ally sealing their place in the last 16 by beating Egypt 3-1 His presence in the starting line-up after sitting out But Zhirkov’s best piece of defending was a last-ditch Cheryshev for his third of the World Cup from Mario yesterday. An own goal by Egypt captain Ahmed Fathy Friday’s 1-0 defeat to Uruguay provoked a feverish excite- tackle that prevented Salah a simple tap in at the back Fernandes’s cross. opened the floodgates on a sodden night in Saint ment from the thousands of Egyptian fans that poured into post. It took 40 minutes for the ’s Golden Three minutes later it was 3-0 as the towering 6ft 4in Petersburg before goals from and Artem the 65,000-capacity Saint Petersburg stadium to almost Boot winner to have an attempt on goal as the ball fell (1.96 metre) Dzyuba demonstrated quick feet to free him- Dzyuba furthered Russian hopes they can defy pre-tour- even up the numbers in the stands with the hosts. kindly on the edge of the area, but even on his favoured self inside the area before slotting low past a helpless nament expectations with a deep run into the latter stages. However, Russia had enjoyed a far more positive start in left foot his effort curled beyond ’s far post. Mohamed El-Shenawy. The Video Assistant Referee Salah did net Egypt’s first goal at a World Cup since thrashing Saudi Arabia 5-0 to snap a seven-game run Shorn of Salah at his best and facing the hosts, Egypt (VAR) system proved its worth to give Egypt a glimmer of 1990 from the penalty spot after he had been hauled down without a win heading into the tournament and their had an uphill task as it was without gifting Russia the ini- hope when referee Enrique Caceres had initially awarded 17 minutes from time, but it was too little, too late for the greater confidence showed early on. tiative as they did in calamitous fashion at the start of the a foul outside the box rather than a penalty when Salah Pharaohs. Russia will be guaranteed a place in the last 16 Aleksandr Golovin and Cheryshev were at the heart of second-half. There appeared little danger when Roman was pulled by Zhirkov. and Egypt eliminated unless Saudi Arabia beat Uruguay most of Russia’s best moves against the Saudis and both Zobnin’s off-target shot dribbled towards goal, but under Salah smashed the 10th penalty of the tournament into today. came close to breaking the deadlock with long-range pressure from Dzyuba, Fathy threw an outstretched right the roof of the net, but it was little consolation as Russia Salah was making his first appearance since injuring his strikes. Salah looked far from the player who scored 44 leg towards the ball and turned it into his own net. took a huge step towards the knockout phase of a World left shoulder when falling heavily after being dragged to goals in his debut season for Liverpool and former Chelsea Having got the bit of luck they needed, Russia showed Cup for the first time 32 years. —AFP

Juan Quintero’s clever low free kick in the the match and their all-time leading scorer Japan sink 39th minute gave Colombia the equaliser but and captain Radamel Falcao came more into Yuya Osako leapt above his marker to head a the game. Falcao, making his World Cup corner into the net for Japan’s 73rd-minute debut after missing the last tournament in 10-man Colombia winner. “To lose one player in the three min- Brazil due to injury, showed his hunger when utes to lose such a crucial player, is not an he stretched full length to get his foot to an in historic easy thing,” Colombia’s Argentine coach Jose overhead cross but did not have the power to Pekerman told reporters. beat the goalkeeper. With Colombia ranked 16th in the world Genki Haraguchi’s foul on Falcao earned win for Asia and Japan 61st, the South Americans were Colombia a foul on the edge of the box and expected to win. It was also sweet revenge Quintero fired a low free kick under the leap- for Japan, who were thumped 4-1 by the same ing wall. Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima SARANSK: Japan upset 10-man Colombia opponents in Brazil 2014, but they wasted reacted late and failed to stop the ball from 2-1 in a dramatic match yesterday to become plenty of chances to kill the game off earlier. crossing the line. the first Asian side to beat South American Kagawa and Osako went close in the first half Colombia continued to trouble Brazil with opponents at the World Cup. Asian teams but failed to increase their lead. quick attacking movements but as the minutes had managed three draws in 17 matches “I told them at halftime to keep moving, passed they lost stamina and playing 90 min- against South American sides but the four- get the advantage in positioning,” Japan utes with a man down proved too big a times Asian champions made their extra man coach Akira Nishino said. “It was good we mountain to climb. In a last throw of the dice, count after Colombia Carlos could deprive the front players of their stami- Pekerman introduced James Rodriguez, who Sanchez became the first player to get a red na. It’s the result that counts. Luck is impor- did not start due to a calf problem, in the 59th card in Russia. tant but it’s not going to do the job.” minute but the Golden Boot winner in Brazil His sending-off in the third minute, for a was unable to change the course of the deliberate handball, was the second fastest in SUPERIOR NUMBERS match. “Without doubt we were expecting World Cup history after Uruguay’s Jose With Japan dominating the midfield with something different, we were hoping to start SARANSK: Colombia’s forward Falcao (C) and Colombia’s defender Oscar Batista was dismissed after 55 seconds their superior numbers, Pekerman opted to with a victory,” Pekerman said. “It’s unfortu- Murillo (top centre) head the ball past Japan’s defender Yuto Nagatomo (L) against Scotland in 1986. Shinji Kagawa sacrifice Juan Cuadrado around the half hour nate for the people of Colombia who came during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group H football match between scored from the resulting penalty to give mark to send on defensive midfielder Wilmar here with high hopes. This is obviously going Colombia and Japan at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk yesterday. — AFP Japan the lead in the Group H match. Barrios. That allowed Colombia a foothold in to leave us with a bitter memory.” — Reuters