Red-hot Russia on verge of last 16 with win over Egypt

Group A

Russia 3-1 Egypt

Free-scoring Russia’s World Cup dream continued with an emphatic 3-1 victory over Egypt in their second Group A match in St. Petersburg tonight.

The win gives the hosts six points from their opening two games and puts them in pole position to advance after outscoring their opponents 8-1 thus far in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Egypt will need an Uruguay loss in tomorrow’s match against Saudi Arabia to avoid elimination.

Mohamed Salah played for the first time since injuring his shoulder in Liverpool’s Champions League final defeat against Real Madrid last month.

The star forward was left on the bench in Egypt’s 1-0 loss to Uruguay in their World Cup opener but was in the starting lineup for Hector Cuper’s team against the Russians.

Russia were the better side in the early minutes, pinning Egypt back in their own half and enjoying a number of half-chances.

Egypt’s Trezeguet sent hearts racing with a curled effort after 16 minutes that just went wide of the post. However, Denis Cheryshev soon replied with a powerful shot that rose inches above the crossbar.

Salah worked his first chance of the game three minutes from half-time when a nice dummy by a teammate gave him space at the top of the box but his scooped, left-footed shot sailed wide off the target.

Russia made their home advantage count immediately after the restart gaining the lead through a bizarre own goal by Egypt defender Ahmed Fathi.

Mohamed El Shenawi watches as the ball heads towards the net off the knee of Fathi.

 

From a broken play, Roman Zobnin scuffed his shot in the direction of Russia target man Artem Dzyuba, being marked by Fathi whose off-balance clearance attempt hit the Egyptian captain’s knee and rolled past helpless goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy and into the net.

Egyptian players circled Paraguayan referee Enrique Caceres arguing a push on Fathi but the goal stood to their dismay.

Salah had a half-chance after 55 minutes when he was found in the box with only one defender surrounding him but his side-footed effort was well-blocked by the recovering Russian defence.

Ruthless Russia doubled their advantage five minutes later through former Real Madrid product Cheryshev who stroked home from inside the box after a nifty move and pulled-back cross from Mario Fernandes on the right.

And the confident hosts made it three on the day just two minutes later, the excellent Dzyuba deftly settling an elevated ball in the box, taking a touch to get free and firing past El-Shenawy.

Salah pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute after he won and scored a penalty.

The Egyptian No. 10 was brought down on the edge of the area and was initially awarded a free kick. However, a VAR review judged the foul to have occurred inside the box and the Liverpool star then stepped up and converted from the spot.

It was too little too late however as Egypt failed to break through the Russian defence once more.

Russia will play their final group game on Monday against Uruguay in Samara, while Egypt will finish against Saudi Arabia on the same day in Volgograd.

Man of the Match – Denis Cheryshev (Russia)

Substitutions: 

Russia –

  • Daler Kuzyaev replaces Denis Cheryshev 74 mins
  • Fedor Smolov replaces Artem Dzyuba 79 mins
  • Fedor Kudryashov replaces Yuri Zhirkov 86 mins

Egypt –

  • Amr Warda replaces Mohamed Elneny 64 mins
  • Ramadan Sobhi replaces Trezeguet 68 mins
  • Mahmoud Kahraba replaces Marwan Mohsen 82 mins

Yellow cards:

Russia – Fedor Smolov

Egypt – Trezeguet

Referee: Enrique Caceres (Paraguay)

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