Group A Matches 5 & 6
Group A: Matches 5 & 6
Saudi Arabia 2-1 Egypt
Uruguay 3-0 Russia
Fair to say that neither game went the way I was expecting!
If you get a chance, watch the highlights of the Saudi's amazing win over Egypt. I just watched them to see how the hell that happened and it was with the absolute last kick of the game that Salem Al Dawsari scored the winning goal.
The short precis of a match report is that Mo Salah gave the Egyptians the lead, scoring a cracking 22nd minute goal, lobbing the goalkeeper. The Saudi team were looking far better, but without actually troubling the 45 year old Egyptian goalie. That was until just before half-tine when the ref awarded a penalty to the Saudi's for handball in the area. This was converted by AL Faraj. That was not the end of the first half action, as Saudi Arabia were awarded another penalty after VAR was consulted, yet the resulting spot kick was saved by the Egyptian goalie, El Hadary and the sides went in to half-time even at 1-1.
The second half was all Saudi Arabia and they had two certain goals saved by El Hadary. Just when you thought that the 45 year old goalies heroics had earned them a draw, up popped Al Dawsari with the winner.
Egypt and Saudi Arabia go home, but at least the Saudis won a game. Egypt were abysmal, Mo Farah, or not.
And so, to the last and most important game in the group Uruguay v Russia. The winner of the group hung on this game. I admit that I thought the home advantage, the threat of the Siberian Salt Mines and the form of the last couple of games would swing it Russia's way. Wrong.
Uruguay. Featuring Saints legend, Martin Cárceres at the heart of their defence, which conceded not a single goal in their three group games, play a simple 4-4-2. It is effective, as the players all know their roles and they have two great forwards in Suáres (What a nice set of teeth that man has got!) and Cavani.
As for their part, Russia had very effectively raised the expectations in the previous two games. A cynic would suggest that the Russian manager chose a weakened team, so that they would end up playing the next game at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, rather than in far away Sochi. whatever, losing this game may well have been beneficial to the hosts.
From the beginning of the match Russia were on the back foot as Uruguay ripped into them. The breakthrough wasn't long in coming. The South Americans won a free kick, at the far left of the Russian penalty area. Suárez struck the ball hard and low straight into the net. 1-0.
It wasn't all one way traffic, but in the 23rd minute a speculative long range shot was deflected past his own goalkeeper by Cheryshev. 2-0 and not even at the half hour mark.
Worse was to come when Smalnikov picked up a second yellow card just after the 30 minute mark and was duly sent in for an early bath. The Russian team were in disarray and the country was shocked by the unexpectedness of the horror show. Russia managed to get to half-time without any more drama and the score remained at 2-0.
In the second half the ten men of Russia at least made more of a game of it, but maybe it was a bit of an illusion, as Uruguay were content to let Russia, looking to hit them on the break.
It fell to Cavani to have the final word, scoring with a tap-in following a mêlée in the Russian penalty area in the last few seconds of the match. 3-0.
So, Uruguay go to Sochi to meet the runners-up in Group B, Russia Go to Moscow to meet the winners of Group B. Saudi Arabia and the pathetic Egypt go home.
Saudi Arabia 2-1 Egypt
Uruguay 3-0 Russia
Fair to say that neither game went the way I was expecting!
If you get a chance, watch the highlights of the Saudi's amazing win over Egypt. I just watched them to see how the hell that happened and it was with the absolute last kick of the game that Salem Al Dawsari scored the winning goal.
The short precis of a match report is that Mo Salah gave the Egyptians the lead, scoring a cracking 22nd minute goal, lobbing the goalkeeper. The Saudi team were looking far better, but without actually troubling the 45 year old Egyptian goalie. That was until just before half-tine when the ref awarded a penalty to the Saudi's for handball in the area. This was converted by AL Faraj. That was not the end of the first half action, as Saudi Arabia were awarded another penalty after VAR was consulted, yet the resulting spot kick was saved by the Egyptian goalie, El Hadary and the sides went in to half-time even at 1-1.
The second half was all Saudi Arabia and they had two certain goals saved by El Hadary. Just when you thought that the 45 year old goalies heroics had earned them a draw, up popped Al Dawsari with the winner.
Egypt and Saudi Arabia go home, but at least the Saudis won a game. Egypt were abysmal, Mo Farah, or not.
And so, to the last and most important game in the group Uruguay v Russia. The winner of the group hung on this game. I admit that I thought the home advantage, the threat of the Siberian Salt Mines and the form of the last couple of games would swing it Russia's way. Wrong.
Uruguay. Featuring Saints legend, Martin Cárceres at the heart of their defence, which conceded not a single goal in their three group games, play a simple 4-4-2. It is effective, as the players all know their roles and they have two great forwards in Suáres (What a nice set of teeth that man has got!) and Cavani.
As for their part, Russia had very effectively raised the expectations in the previous two games. A cynic would suggest that the Russian manager chose a weakened team, so that they would end up playing the next game at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, rather than in far away Sochi. whatever, losing this game may well have been beneficial to the hosts.
From the beginning of the match Russia were on the back foot as Uruguay ripped into them. The breakthrough wasn't long in coming. The South Americans won a free kick, at the far left of the Russian penalty area. Suárez struck the ball hard and low straight into the net. 1-0.
It wasn't all one way traffic, but in the 23rd minute a speculative long range shot was deflected past his own goalkeeper by Cheryshev. 2-0 and not even at the half hour mark.
Worse was to come when Smalnikov picked up a second yellow card just after the 30 minute mark and was duly sent in for an early bath. The Russian team were in disarray and the country was shocked by the unexpectedness of the horror show. Russia managed to get to half-time without any more drama and the score remained at 2-0.
In the second half the ten men of Russia at least made more of a game of it, but maybe it was a bit of an illusion, as Uruguay were content to let Russia, looking to hit them on the break.
It fell to Cavani to have the final word, scoring with a tap-in following a mêlée in the Russian penalty area in the last few seconds of the match. 3-0.
So, Uruguay go to Sochi to meet the runners-up in Group B, Russia Go to Moscow to meet the winners of Group B. Saudi Arabia and the pathetic Egypt go home.
