FIFA World Cup 2018, Russia vs Egypt, highlights: RUS win 3-1 vs EGY, close in on Rd of 16 spot
Russia maintained their winning streak at the FIFA World Cup 2018 as they beat Egypt 3-1 in a Group A game. Get highlights of Russia vs Egypt, FIFA World Cup 2018 Group A game, here.
World Cup hosts Russia kept up their free-scoring ways to move to the brink of a second round place with a 3-1 win over Egypt in their Group A match at the Saint Petersburg Stadium on Tuesday. Russia’s place in the knockout stages will be secured on Wednesday if Uruguay avoid defeat against Saudi Arabia in the next Group A game. Ahmed Fathi put the ball into his own net two minutes after halftime, followed by two goals in a three minute spell from Denis Cheryshev and Artem Dzyuba around the hour mark as Russia took their tournament goal tally to eight in two games. Egyptian talisman Mohamed Salah, playing for the first time since injuring his shoulder in last month’s Champions League final, pulled one back from a 73rd minute penalty, awarded after a review by the video assistant referee. Get highlights of Russia vs Egypt, FIFA World Cup 2018 Group A game, here.
01:19 hrs IST: That’s it! Russia have sealed yet another big win. This time they defeat Egypt 3-1
01:16 hrs IST: Egypt are trying hard but they are yet to shoot on goal properly. There is desperation from them, But Russia still have two-goal cushion.
01:07 hrs IST: Last 10 minutes left. Egypt need to pull off a miracle for them to stay alive in the competition.
01:01 hrs IST: GOAL!! Salah scores his first goal of the World Cup. No mistakes at that.
01:00 hrs IST: Penalty for Egypt after Salah is brought down in the box by Sobhi. The ref had first awarded a freekick from outside the area but VAR it’s a penalty.
00:55 hrs IST: Those three goals have taken the life out of Egypt attack. If they lose today, they are all but out of the World Cup
00:52 hrs IST: GOAL AGAIN!! Russia are in for another big win it seems. Artem Dzyuba receives the ball at the edge of the box, turned and boomed a low shot into the net
00:45 hrs IST: GOAL!! Denys Cherysev scores in the 58th minutes. Fernandes makes a run from the right and passes to Cheryshev, who sidefoots the ball into the net from close range
00:36 hrs IST: GOAL!!! Russia take lead as Ahmed Fathy scores an own goal
Fathy tries to clear the ball in the box but he miscues it backwards into his own goal! Russian fans are not complaining though
00:16 hrs IST: It’s half-time and no goals have been scored yet.
00:14 hrs IST: Salah shoots wide! There was no power in it.
00:08 hrs IST: Marwan Mohsen is also making foray regularly into the rival box. But the tall Russian defenders led by Yuri Zhirkov have thwarted the attack so far.
00:04 hrs IST: A very good out-stepped cross from Abdelshafy fails to reach Salah as Zhirkov intercepts nicely. 34 minutes on, goals yet
00:02 hrs IST: Though no goals have been scored, this has been an extremely fast paced
23:55 hrs IST: Attempt blocked. Trézéguet’s right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Mohamed Salah.
23:52 hrs IST: Attempt missed. Yuri Gazinskiy (Russia) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
23:49 hrs IST: Denis Cheryshev comes up with a fiery right footer but Egypt goalkeeper is alert.
23:46 hrs IST: Egypt pressing hard but they have lacked the firepower.
23:42 hrs IST: Salah makes an in ward road from the right. Russian defenders are quick to clear it.
23:40 hrs IST: The first 10 minutes are up! No goals and No Salah either. He has been absent from the action so far.
23:36 hrs IST: Sergei Ignashevich attempts a weak header but Egypt goalkeeper holds it firmly.
23:32 hrs IST: Egypt has shown signs of going on the offensive in the early minutes. But no goals yet. An early strike will spice things up today.
23:30 hrs IST: Salah offers a short prayer before the match. His fans back home will be doing the same it seems. Egypt need a win today.
23:25 hrs IST: The teams are here for the national anthems.
23:04 hrs IST: Forward Artem Dzyuba, who scored a minute after coming on from the bench in the second half, is the other change and starts in place of striker Fyodor Smolov.
23:00 hrs IST: Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov made two changes to the team that thrashed Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the opening game of the tournament, with winger Denis Cheryshev, who scored twice in that match, replacing injured midfielder Alan Dzagoev.
22:52 hrs IST: Salah missed Egypt’s 1-0 defeat by Uruguay in their first game as he was still recovering from a shoulder injury he sustained in the Champions League final last month, and replaces Amr Warda in the only change made by coach Hector Cuper.
22:50 hrs IST: Egypt’s talismanic striker Mohamed Salah was named in their starting line-up for their second World Cup Group A match against Russia in St Petersburg on Tuesday.
22:45 hrs IST: The teams
Russia: Akinfeev; Fernandes, Kutepov, Ignashevich, Zhirkov; Gazinskiy, Zobnin, Samedov, Golovin, Cheryshev; Dzuba
Egypt: El Shenawy; Fathi, Hegazi, Gabr, Shafy; Elneny, Hamed; Salah, El-said; Trezeguet; Mohsen
22:40 hrs IST: Welcome all to the live coverage!
Liverpool star Salah has not featured since leaving the field in tears early in the Champions League final just over three weeks ago after landing heavily on his left shoulder and had to watch from the bench as Egypt lost 1-0 to Uruguay in their opening game.
Salah has been declared 100 percent fit by Egypt’s team doctor and his agent, leaving little doubt he will be thrown back into action in the Pharaohs’ hour of need.
However, as he returned to training on Saturday, Salah was seen by AFP reporters at Egypt’s training camp in Grozny needing help from teammates to lift a training top over his head.
If fully fit, the sight of Salah, who scored 44 goals in a remarkable debut season at Liverpool, will strike fear into the Russians.
Concerns Russia could become just the second host nation to bow out of the World Cup at the group stage after a seven-game winless run ahead of the tournament have been alleviated by a perfect start.
With Uruguay favourites to top the group, though, Russia are keen not to have to rely on getting something from their final group game against the two-time former world champions.