FIFA World Cup 2018: Uruguay, Iran register narrow victories

Uruguay's Jose Gimenez scored with a thunderous 89th minute header to deal Egypt a 1-0 defeat in their World Cup opener on Friday, just as the North Africans appeared to have escaped with a point despite missing key striker Mohamed Salah. Gimenez rose perfectly to meet a Carlos Sanchez free kick and score the goal that broke a 48-year Uruguayan 'curse' of failing to win their opening game at World Cup finals. Egypt came within minutes of surviving largely thanks to the heroics of goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy, who bravely dived to snatch the ball from Luis Suarez' feet and then flung himself through the air to tip a Edinson Cavani volley wide. Cavani also hit the post as Uruguay gained in strength and purpose the longer the game progressed, seemingly buoyed by the realisation that Salah would not even make an appearance from the bench. Iran's players stormed the pitch at full-time as if they had won the World Cup rather than just their opening match after an own goal from Morocco's Aziz Bouhaddouz gifted them a dramatic 1-0 victory on Friday.

Updated on: Jun 16, 2018 12:09 AM IST

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Uruguay’s Jose Gimenez cannoned in an 89th minute header to deal Egypt a 1-0 defeat in their FIFA World Cup 2018 opener on Friday. (REUTERS)

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Uruguay's Jose Gimenez celebrates scoring their first goal with Martin Caceres (R) and Diego Godin (L). (REUTERS)

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Uruguay's forward Luis Suarez (2R) fires a free kick into the defensive wall. (AFP)

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Egypt's defender Ahmed Fathi (L) challenges Uruguay's midfielder Giorgian De Arrascaeta (R). (AFP)

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Uruguay's midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur (R) tangles with Egypt's midfielder Abdallah Said (L). (AFP)

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Surprisingly, Mohamed Salah didn’t feature in the game at all. (AFP)

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Morocco's Aziz Bouhaddouz scores an own goal against Iran. (REUTERS)

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The own goal proved to be crucial as Iran claimed their first World Cup win in 20 years. (REUTERS)

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People supporting Iranian women are holding a banner at the stands during the group B match between Morocco and Iran. (AP)