Jose Gimenez bailed out Uruguay's all-star forwards with a 90th-minute winner to see off Egypt 1-0 in its World Cup opener Friday.
As it happened: Egypt vs Uruguay
Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani each passed up opportunities to clinch the points against a Pharaohs side that kept Mohamed Salah on the bench, but it was center back Gimenez who proved the hero.
After the excitement of Group A rival Russia's goal frenzy a day earlier, there was a serious lack of invention on show in Ekaterinburg.
Suarez missed two golden opportunities as goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy excelled, before Cavani struck the post with a late free kick, seemingly sealing a point for Egypt in its return to the finals.
But Gimenez rose highest to meet a set-piece and bury a header past El-Shenawy, celebrating a fine end to a week in which he signed a new contract at Atletico Madrid.
Egypt offered little in Salah's absence and is now under pressure heading into a clash with Russia, while Uruguay — and particularly Suarez — can breathe a sigh of relief.
With Salah – who has been battling a shoulder injury – watching on from the sidelines, Egypt's approach was largely compact and somewhat rugged and the first chance came as Cavani worked El-Shenawy from 20 yards.
Suarez should have fired Uruguay in front at the midway point of the first half, but, when the ball dropped his way from a corner, he screwed a close-range effort into the side-netting.
Uruguay continued to labour in the attacking third before the break, while a healthy Egyptian contingent had only Salah's appearance on the stadium's big screen to cheer.
Suarez and his team-mates were quickly back on the front foot following the restart, though, and Cavani fed his strike partner for a low drive that El-Shenawy blocked bravely.
The Barcelona forward squandered another opportunity late on, forcing his way through the Egypt backline but failing in his attempt to round the goalkeeper.
And El-Shenawy again looked to have preserved a point with a sublime save from Cavani's thunderous volley, before the Uruguay attacker curled a free-kick against the post.
But Gimenez came to the rescue as he planted a header into the bottom-right corner, earning a hard-fought victory.
Key Opta stats:
- Uruguay has won its opening match at a World Cup tournament for the first time since 1970, when it beat Israel.
- Egypt is still winless at the World Cup finals, failing to win five matches (D2 L3).
- Jose Gimenez's winning goal in the 90th minute was Uruguay's latest winning goal in a World Cup match since Daniel Fonseca's 92nd-minute winner against South Korea in June 1990.
- This was Oscar Tabarez's 16th World Cup match in charge of Uruguay – only one manager has managed more matches for a South American country at the World Cup (Mario Zagallo for Brazil, 20 games).
Comments
SHARE