FIFA
World Cup 2018 Russia
Match
Day 2 Review:
Group
A:
|
Team
|
Matches
|
Won
|
Lost
|
Draw
|
GD
|
Points
|
|
Russia
(Q)
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
7
|
6
|
|
Uruguay
(Q)
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
6
|
|
Egypt
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
-3
|
0
|
|
Saudi
Arabia
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
-6
|
0
|
Russia
vs Egypt: 3-1
Host continue
their rampaging run in the group A match day 2 fixture against Egypt after
decimating Saudi Arabia 5-0 in Match day 1. Mohammed Salah, who was on bench in
the first fixture against Uruguay starts today for Egypt to make an impact.
First 20 minutes not much of impact for both teams, with Salah looking isolated
from the team as Russia Dominating midfield and on the Other hand Cheryshev is
getting more support from his team and trying to menace the Egyptian Defense.
At 34th minute Salah has a chance to score but thwarted by Zhirkov
just settling for a corner. In the Final 10 minutes of the second Half Egypt
seems to have stepped up their game with Salah looking more menacing. At the
end of the first half score line stands 0-0. Just 2 minutes into the second
half Zobnin shot is deflected into his own net by Fathy resulting in own goal
and 1-0 lead for Russia. Egyptians looking frustrated as well as resolute to
score one but the chance by far looks bleak. At 59th minute
Cheryshev doubles the lead with assist from Fernandes making it 2-0 for Russia.
Just 2 minutes later Dzyuba scores from assist of Kutepov to make it 3-0 for
Russia. The score line has made it nearly impossible for Egypt to come back
into the game as the hosts have taken an unassailable lead at the moment. At 73rd
minute through VAR Egypt is awarded a Penalty which salah steps up scores to
make it 3-1. At the end of match the score line is 3-1 and Russia have
qualified for Knock out stages for the First time since the disintegration of
Erstwhile Soviet Union.
Scorers:
Fathy (EGY) –
47’ OG
Cheryshev
(RUS) – 59’
Dzyuba (RUS)
– 61’
Salah (EGY) –
73’
Bookings:
Smolov (RUS)
– Yellow
Trezeguet
(EGY) – Yellow
Highlights:
Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia: 1-0
First of all
congratulations for Luiz Suarez for his 100th cap for Uruguay and this
is his 3rd world cup appearance. Right from start both times looked
to open up the attack but it was Uruguay which was more concentrated. At 23rd
minute, Luiz Suarez scores from the corner making it 1-0 for Uruguay. Interestingly
Saudi Arabia had more possession in the First half than Uruguay but they haven’t
found the width to trouble Uruguay. First half score line stands at 1-0. First
20 minutes of the second half Saudi Arabian attack seem more concentrated while
two close chances for Uruguay were fumbled lacking final touch. At the end of
Full time score line stands 1-0 Uruguay win with which Uruguay has qualified
for knock out stages.
Scorers:
Luiz Suarez –
23’
Bookings:
No Bookings
Highlights:
Review:
Russia and
Uruguay have qualified for the Round of 16’s with Group A match day 2 has
ended. On Match day 3 it will be decided who will become A1 and A2 to play
against B1 and B2. Regarding Saudi Arabia and Egypt they will play dead rubber
to find who will finish in remaining spots as they have already been knocked
out of the world cup.
|
25th June
|
19:30
|
Samara
|
A
|
Uruguay
|
Russia
|
|
25th June
|
19:30
|
Volvograd
|
A
|
Saudi Arabia
|
Egypt
|
Group B:
|
Group B
|
||||||
|
Team
|
Matches
|
Won
|
Lost
|
Draw
|
GD
|
Points
|
|
Spain
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
|
Portugal
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
|
Iran
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
|
Morocco
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
-2
|
0
|
Portugal vs Morocco: 1-0
In the do or
die match for Morocco, they were against the European Champions Portugal. At 4th
minute Ronaldo grabs the 4th goal of the tournament from a corner
making it 1-0 for Portugal. In next 5 minutes Portugal came close to score in
two occasions only to be stopped by Moroccan Defense. But Moroccans recovered
well from the initial set back and they are better in the attack continuously testing
the Portuguese defense. Though Moroccans clearly were the better side it was
the score line which divides the sides here. In first 15 minutes of the second half,
Patricio makes 2 stunning saves to deny Moroccans a goal and he is probably the
best player for Portugal at the moment. Moroccans have been the best team in
the second half with good possession but the difference was just Patricio who
has been commanding well to deny Morocco a goal. Two counter attacks in final
minutes but shots are wide and doesn’t count for Morocco. End of the game score
line stands at 1-0 win for Portugal with which Morocco has been eliminated from
the world cup. Morocco for sure deserved a point but unfortunately the own goal
in match day 1 will come to haunt them now.
Scorers:
Ronaldo
(POR) – 4’
Bookings:
Silva (POR) –
Yellow
Benatia
(MOR) – Yellow
Highlights:
Spain vs Iran: 1-0
As expected
Iran had pre decided to sit back and defend and occasionally attack so that all
they expect to make a draw or to force a win. In entire first half it was Spain
who had more than 80% possession and shot or target but couldn’t score any goal
and on the other hand Iran sat tight just clearing any threats coming in from Spain.
In the Second half same story continues with Spain relentlessly attacking, both
Isco and Iniesta are creating havoc across midfield but the final touch is what
is not being found. At 54th minute, Diego Costa breaks the deadlock
by scoring from Iniesta assist making it 1-0 for Spain. At 62nd
minute Taremi scores from the Header but Video replay shows him offside and the
hard earned goal is taken back with score line 1-0 in favor of Spain. Further
at 83rd minute Taremi comes closer to score a goal but the header
goes above the post. End of the match it is 1-0 Spain win with just a goal
which was good enough to take 3 points and top the group.
Scorers:
Costa (SPA) –
54’
Bookings:
Ebrahimi
(IRN) – Yellow
Amiri (IRN) –
Yellow
Highlights:
Review:
Except
Morocco All other teams are still in contention for the 2 knockout stages spot.
Spain vs
Morocco – DRAW & Portugal vs Iran – Draw -> Spain and Portugal Qualify
Spain vs
Morocco – Morocco win & Portugal vs Iran – Portugal win -> Spain and
Portugal Qualify
Spain vs
Morocco – Spain Win & Portugal vs Iran – Draw -> Spain and Portugal
Qualify
Spain vs
Morocco – DRAW & Portugal vs Iran – Iran Win -> Spain and Iran Qualify
Spain vs
Morocco – Morocco win & Portugal vs Iran – Iran Win -> Iran Qualify,
Portugal & Spain will qualify based on Goal Difference
Spain vs
Morocco – Spain Win & Portugal vs Iran – Portugal win -> Spain and
Portugal Qualify
|
25th June
|
23:30
|
Saransk
|
B
|
Iran
|
Portugal
|
|
25th June
|
23:30
|
Kaliningrad
|
B
|
Spain
|
Morocco
|
