THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2018 21 Uruguay in, Saudi out

Egypt and Saudi Arabia have been• eliminated after both suffered back-to-back defeats. The goal was special because I Russia and Uruguay will wanted to make face• one of the top two from up for the other Group B in the last 16 -- either day against Egypt Portugal, Spain or Iran. LUIS SUAREZ

Rostov-on-Don | Russia

ruguay booked their place in the Uruguay, semi-finalists eight World Cup knockout stage along years ago in South Africa, have Uwith Russia yesterday, as Luis now reached the knockout Suarez scored the winner on his 100th stage for the third straight time, international appearance in a 1-0 victory while Saudi Arabia will try again over Saudi Arabia in Rostov-on-Don. in their search for a first World The South Americans take on the hosts Cup win since 1994 in their final in their final Group A match on June 25 game against Mohamed Salah’s Egypt. with top spot on the line, while Egypt Suarez made a bright start, looking to and Saudi Arabia have been eliminated make amends for his poor performance Uruguay’s forward Luis Suarez (hidden) celebrates with teammates after both suffered back-to-back defeats. in the opening 1-0 win against Egypt, Russia and Uruguay will face one of firing a left-footed volley from Cris - missed a floated Carlos Sanchez Group the top two from Group B in the last 16 tian Rodriguez’s knockdown which was corner and Suarez tapped in his -- either Portugal, Spain or Iran. blocked by Ali Al-Bulayhi. 52nd international goal unmarked A The 31-year-old Suarez, whose pre- The Saudis managed to have plenty at the back post. Russia Egypt vious two World Cups both ended in of early possession, although without That strike was Suarez’s sixth World S. Arabia Uruguay bans after his infamous 2010 handball looking overly threatening, only to gift Cup goal and made him the first Uru- against Ghana and bite on Italy’s Giorgio Uruguay a 23rd-minute lead. guayan to score in three separate finals. Ranking Pts P W D L F A GD Chiellini four years later, took advantage Al-Owais Juan Antonio Pizzi’s Saudi Arabia con- 1 Russia 6 2 2 0 0 8 1 7 of a goalkeeping error by Mohammed -- win - tinued to look far more assured on the 2 Uruguay 6 2 2 0 0 2 0 2 Wednesday June 20 URUGUAYAl-Owais to put Uruguay1 0 SAUDIahead midway ARABIA ning only ball than they did in the 5-0 drubbing by 3 Egypt 0 2 0 0 2 1 4 -3 through the first half. his second Russia on the opening day of the tour- 4 Saudi Arabia 0 2 0 0 2 0 6 -6 23’ Suarez Rostov Arena cap after re- nament, with Hatan Bahbri firing a wild Group A placing Ab- volley over shortly after seeing a long- Russia 5 0 S. Arabia dullah Al- range effort tipped away by Fernando 14 June - Moscow Luzhniki WednesdayWednesdayWednesday June June 20 Wednesday 20June 20 URUGUAYURUGUAY June 20 1Referee1 00 SAUDISAUDI ARABIA ARABIA URUGUAYURUGUAY(FRA)1 0 SAUDI1Muaiouf0 ARABIASAUDI ARABIA Muslera. The three points and a last- Clément Turpin Egypt 0- - Uruguay 23’23’ SuarezSuarez RostovRostov Arena Arena in goal -- 16 spot should have been wrapped up 1 23’ 23’ Suarez GroupGroupSuarez A A Rostov ArenaRostov Arena Players Possession completelyPlayers just after the hour mark, but Sanchez 15 June - Yekaterinburg Referee Group A Group A PossessionReferee headed over when unmarked at the 1 Muslera ClémentClément Turpin Turpin (FRA) (FRA) 22 Al-Owais Russia 3 1 Egypt Referee Referee back post from a wonderful Edinson 2 Gimenez Clément TurpinClément (FRA) Turpin3 Hawsawi (FRA) (cap) PlayersPlayers PossessionPossession PlayersPlayers Cavani cross. The South Americans 19 June - St Petersburg 3 Godin (cap) 4 Al-Bulayhi 11 MusleraMuslera 47% 53% 2222 Al-OwaisAl-Owais continued to be wasteful in front 4 Varela 2 Gimenez Players Players Possession3 HawsawiPossession6 (cap)Al-Burayk(cap) Players Players Uruguay 1 0 S. Arabia 2 Gimenez 3 Hawsawi of goal, as Martin Caceres sent a 33 GodinGodin (cap) (cap) 44 Al-BulayhiAl-BulayhiThe Final whistle 5 C. Sanchez 1 Muslera 82’1 Muslera 47%47% 53%53% 7 Al-Faraj22 Al-Owais22 Al-Owais 20 June - Rostov-on-Don 44 VarelaVarela 66 Al-BuraykAl-Burayk header flying off target from the 6 Bentancur 2 Gimenez 2 Gimenez 9 Bahbri 3 Hawsawi (cap)3 75’Hawsawi (cap) 55 C.C. Sanchez Sanchez 82’82’ 77 Al-FarajAl-Faraj t’s all over at Rostov second successive 1-0 win 33-year-old Sanchez’s free-kick. S. Arabia - - Egypt 7 Rodriguez66 BentancurBentancur3 Godin (cap)59’3 Godin (cap) 13 8 99 BahbriBahbri13 Al-Shahrani475’75’Al-Bulayhi4 Al-Bulayhi Shots47% 47% 53% Arena53% and Luis Suarez’s for Uruguay books their spot Cavani came close to emulating 9 Suarez 77 RodriguezRodriguez 59’59’ 1313 ShotsShots 88 1313 Al-ShahraniAl-Shahrani14 OtayfI 25 June - Volgograd 4 Varela 4 Varela first-half6 goalAl-Burayk - on his6 Al-Burayk100th in the Round of 16 but Saudi Suarez by scoring in a third WC, 15 Vecino 99 SuarezSuarez5 C. Sanchez59’5 C. Sanchez82’ 4 On82’ target 3 1414 OtayfOtayf17 Al-Jassim7 Al-Faraj 7 44’Al-Faraj 1515 VecinoVecino 59’59’ 44 OnOn target target 33 1717 Al-JassimAl-Jassiminternational44’44’ appearance Arabia cannot progress be- but his low shot was smoth- Uruguay - - Russia 21 Cavani 2121 CavaniCavani6 Bentancur6 Bentancur 1818 Al-DawsariAl-Dawsari18 Al-Dawsari- proved9 theBahbri difference.9 Bahbri A yond75’ the group75’ stage. ered by the onrushing Al- 2222 CaceresCaceres 101010 FoulsFoulsFouls 1313 13 1919 Al-MuwalladAl-Muwallad 78’78’ 25 June - Samara 22 Caceres 7 Rodriguez7 Rodriguez59’ 59’ 13 Shots13 8Shots19 Al-Muwallad813 Al-Shahrani13 78’Al-Shahrani Owais. 1414 TorreiraTorreira9 Suarez 9 Suarez59’59’ (cap)(cap) = = Captain Captain YellowYellow card card 1616 Al-MoqahwiAl-Moqahwi 1444’44’Otayf 14 Otayf 14 Torreira171715LaxaltLaxaltVecino 1559’Vecino59’59’ (cap)59’ = SubstitutionCaptainSubstitution 59’ RedRed4 cardYellow cardOn card target41212 KannoKannoOn316 targetAl-Moqahwi31775’75’Al-Jassim17 44’Al-Jassim 44’ 44’ 17 Laxalt 8821NandezNandezCavani 2159’Cavani82’82’ og=ownog=ownSubstitution goal, goal, pen=penalty pen=penalty Red card 1010 Al-SahlawiAl-Sahlawi12 Kanno 1878’78’Al-Dawsari18 75’Al-Dawsari 8 Nandez 22 Caceres 2282’Caceresog=ownSource:Source: goal,FIFA FIFA pen=penalty10 Fouls10 13Fouls10 Al-Sahlawi 1319 Al-Muwallad19 78’Al-Muwallad78’ 78’ Source: FIFA 14 Torreira 14 Torreira 59’ (cap)59’ = Captain(cap) = CaptainYellow card Yellow16 cardAl-Moqahwi16 Al-Moqahwi44’ 44’ 17 Laxalt 17 Laxalt Spain 59’ 59’Substitution beatSubstitutionRed cardIranRed card12 Kanno 1-012 Kanno with75’ 75’Costa’s third goal of World Cup 8 Nandez 8 Nandez 82’ og=own82’ goal, pen=penaltyog=own goal, pen=penalty 10 Al-Sahlawi10 Al-Sahlawi78’ 78’ AFP | , RussiaSource: FIFA Source: FIFA His gesture went unpunished, and score Les Bleus’ opener in a 2-1 win rebound off Ramin Rezaeian and into the Atletico striker required over Australia. the net. lucky Diego Costa goal handed another stroke of luck on 54 minutes Spain resumed in more positive fash- Spain, however, were still flattering AWorld Cup hopefuls Spain their when his shot came off Ramin Rezaeian ion after the break, Beiranvand forced to deceive. On a rare counter goalkeep- first win of the World Cup although to beat Beiranvand after he had been to produce heroics twice in the space of er was left irate when dogged Irancame close to causing a sent through by Andres Iniesta. KNOW WHAT four minutes. Shortly after the restart Taremi rose to head a metre wide. major upset on Wednesday. The entire Iranian bench poured an corner was flicked on by Cos- Moments later, the stadium erupted The victory in Kazan puts the 2010 onto the pitch when Saeid Ezatolahi ta to Gerard Pique but his effort was when Ezatolahi fired through a packed winners on course for the last 16. fired an equaliser for the Lions of Persia Iran were denied an cleared off the line. Spain area to beat De Gea but the assis- Costa, who scored twice in a 3-3 just before the hour. ’ drive from 20 yards tant referee’s flag was up. opening draw with Portugal in Sochi, But the thousands of Iranian sup - equaliser after the was then parried by Beiranvand, who In the final quarter hour Iran battled courted controversy early in the Group porters that filled the stadiuum with VAR ruled the goal palmed the rebound away before Lucas for a late equaliser, but after Vahid B encounter when he stepped on the the sound of vuvuzelas throughout out due to offside Vazquez could pounce. Amiri showed class to nutmeg Pique toes of Iran ‘keeper Ali Beiranvand as were left disappointed when it was Some great vision from Iniesta, and deep on the left and fire over an inviting he waited to kick the ball out. ruled out for offside. a slice of luck, however broke Iranian cross, Taremi’s thundering header flew hearts when Costa spun and latched just over the bar as a relieved De Gea on to the ball before seeing his shot looked on.

Spain coach wel- comed Real Madrid’s back into the starting line-up following his recovery from a hamstring injury suffered in the Champions League final win over Liverpool. With Lucas Vazquez replacing Atlet- ico Madrid midfielder Koke, it gave La Roja a distinctively Real Madrid feel. Costa got so frustrated with Iran’s defensive tactics that he approached Beiranvand and provocatively stepped on his toes, leaving the ‘keeper in visible pain. It went unpunished by Uruguay- For reservations call an referee Cunha, who had awarded France a historic first VAR-assisted +973 17364999 (seef District) Spain’s forward Diego Costa (R) celebrates his goal with midfielder Isco penalty that saw +973 17728699 (um Al Hassam)