Uruguay vs Portugal 2-1 Goals & Highlights, Edinson Cavani scored two wonder goals

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pWPClIckQQN2vtrGKDnDgMoNXYhinwOJnAPXfWMl-JE9cZLvk2k77_3g4CJec5WV8JHPbj9Yzx7XfFUVAo62LU_OumGr6TY8oIsqovWoaeDU2eCDYTyt3LQ4bWT0trcj1EP9XdU8rAS-/s1600/SuarezRonaldo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="968" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pWPClIckQQN2vtrGKDnDgMoNXYhinwOJnAPXfWMl-JE9cZLvk2k77_3g4CJec5WV8JHPbj9Yzx7XfFUVAo62LU_OumGr6TY8oIsqovWoaeDU2eCDYTyt3LQ4bWT0trcj1EP9XdU8rAS-/s640/SuarezRonaldo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luis Suárez (Left) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Right)</td></tr> </tbody></table> <h2> Edinson Cavani scored two wonder goals as Uruguay progressed to the quarters at the expense of Cristiano Ronaldo and the reigning champions of Europe.</h2> <h2> Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi crash out of World Cup on same day as Edinson Cavani brace stuns Portugal .</h2> Two sumptuous goals from Edinson Cavani set up a tantalising quarter-final meeting with France on Friday on a day when hope of a Messi-Ronaldo showdown in Nizhny Novgorod was vanquished.<br /> <br /> Yet this was not quite the fairytale for Cavani that France’s thrilling 4-3 victory over Argentina had proved for his club team-mate, Mbappe, who also scored twice, earlier in the day.<br /> <br /> There was only 10 minutes between Cavani scoring Uruguay’s decisive second, after the Portugal defender Pepe had cancelled out his opening goal, and the striker pulling up with a hamstring injury and limping off with a crestfallen look on his face.<br /> <br /> Oscar Tabarez, the Uruguay coach, said Cavani would be assessed, but with only six days until they face France, time is against him. “He felt pain,” Tabarez said. “We don’t have a lot of time for recovery but after a rest day we will have a diagnosis. Now we are worried but right now we don’t know how grave this injury is.”<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Cavani was helped off the field in a show of great sportsmanship from Ronaldo but this was the closest the Portugal captain got to making an impression on the game. The Real Madrid maestro was a virtual bystander, powerless, like Messi, to prevent his team’s exit, his misery compounded in the closing seconds when he was booked for protesting over a perceived Uruguay foul.<br /> <br /> It was actually the only yellow card of a game that, while ferociously fought, didn't descend into the slugfest many anticipated. Whether Ronaldo gets another stab at winning a World Cup in Qatar in four years time, when he will be 37, remains to be seen but Fernando Santos expects him to still be there when qualifying for Euro 2020 begins in September. “Cristiano still has a lot to give, there’s qualifying starting in September and, of course, we hope Cristiano will be with us to help these young players to grow. It’s important to have the captain’s presence there and he’s always there for us.”<br /> <br /> Portugal were certainly knocking on Uruguay’s door in the final 20 minutes but it was Bernardo Silva and others, rather than a strangely subdued Ronaldo, who led the fight, only to be repelled time and again by Uruguay’s outstanding defence, which played as big a part in this victory as its electrifying attack. And what an attack, one that will be sadly weakened if Cavani is missing against France.<br /> <br /> There have been all manner of arresting goals scored in this tournament but a pair of centre-forwards combining to convert what was effectively a 100-yard one-two provided a new category altogether.<br /> <br /> Cavani picked up the ball on Uruguay’s right touchline, about 15 yards past the halfway line, and speared a raking pass over to Suarez on the opposite side. Suarez controlled on his chest and, while Cavani made a dash for the six-yard box, the Barcelona striker cut inside Ricardo and then bent a venomous, humdinger of a cross from the edge of the penalty area over Jose Fonte and the despairing Raphael Guerreiro to Cavani.<br /> <br /> Initially, it looked as if Cavani had craned his neck quite superbly to head home from close range. In fact, the ball hit his face and bounced in but the combination play was still something to savour. “There was no scheme against that - it was an incredible play,” Santos said. “Uruguay have never scored like that. We weren’t prepared to control that sort of movement from Cavani and Suarez.”<br /> <br /> That was seven minutes in and an early reminder that, for all its pre-match billing as a bruising, cynical encounter between some of the game’s most wily and belligerent individuals, there were plenty of players on show who could play a bit, too.<br /> <br /> That is not to say the fine arts were not interspersed with some occasional dark arts. There was some play-acting from Suarez and Pepe, a late poleaxing of Fonte by the uncompromising Martin Caceres and some grizzled old-school defending from the imperious Diego Godin, whose reaction to planting his forehead into the back of Goncalo Guedes’s head was the quickest rub and a shrug of the shoulders. But for the most part it was a game played hard but fair and was all the more engrossing for it.<br /> <br /> It was slim pickings for Ronaldo throughout, though. There were shades of the 2009 Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester United early on when he kept trying his hand from distance. One sighter was comfortably saved, another charged down and then he bludgeoned a free-kick into a wall, but, as the game wore on, he became increasingly peripheral as Portugal instead looked to Bernardo.<br /> <br /> Ronaldo’s one contribution of note was to draw the attention of Godin and his equally brilliant central-defensive partner, Jose Gimenez, away from Pepe and allow his Portugal team-mate the space and opportunity to head home Guerreiro’s corner.<br /> <br /> The goal was a frustration for Uruguay but no more. It was pretty much the only time their obdurate, highly-organised backline was breached but there is strength and balance running through this side and, within seven minutes, they were back in front.<br /> <br /> The ease with which Rodrigo Bentancur picked up possession after a long punt up field was knocked down will grate with Santos but make no mistake about the quality that followed. Bentancur swept the ball across the edge of the penalty, right to left, and into the path of Cavani, who opened up his body and stroked a sublime first-time finish low into the far corner. It would be Cavani's last contribution. But what a contribution, the kind Ronaldo must have dreamt of.<br /> <br /> credit: telegraph.co.uk<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Cavani Cristiano Ronaldo Featured FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup Round of 16 Luis Suárez Pepe Portugal Football Team Sports Uruguay Football Team Uruguay vs Portugal Uruguay vs Portugal 2-1 Goals & Highlights, Edinson Cavani scored two wonder goals

Luis Suárez (Left) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Right) Edinson Cavani scored two wonder goals as Uruguay progressed to the quarters at the ex...

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FIFA World Cup 2018: Uruguay vs Russia [ 3-0 ] Goals and highlights

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXDuIkJgpf1bgZ7DoL4Kwd2qXzx2w5knxIerdHA3GhHG1Xfh0YjNCO407mIpvx8FFrQJqp_4M_QBB07Hp-2K-lc-84BU4s8_3nqjyCNCO_d1gqTbweXQO_SwUv1rPjXpNJLoZ3O47lLfp/s1600/Uruguay-vs-Russia3a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1440" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXDuIkJgpf1bgZ7DoL4Kwd2qXzx2w5knxIerdHA3GhHG1Xfh0YjNCO407mIpvx8FFrQJqp_4M_QBB07Hp-2K-lc-84BU4s8_3nqjyCNCO_d1gqTbweXQO_SwUv1rPjXpNJLoZ3O47lLfp/s640/Uruguay-vs-Russia3a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uruguay vs Russia [ 3-0 ] Goals and highlights</td></tr> </tbody></table> Russia's impressive start to the World Cup ended as they had a man sent off and were easily defeated by Uruguay, whose victory means they top Group A.<br /> Uruguay will go on to face Portugal in the last 16, while hosts Russia play Spain.<br /> <br /> There was a party atmosphere around the scorching Samara Arena before kick-off, with fans having travelled from all over the country keen to share in the good feeling surrounding their national team.<br /> Russia had scored eight goals in sweeping victories over Saudi Arabia and Egypt and were already guaranteed to progress, but they went behind in their final group match after only 10 minutes when Luis Suarez drilled in a clever low free-kick.<br /> <br /> It got worse for Stanislav Cherchesov's side when a Diego Laxalt effort from 25 yards was deflected in by Denis Cheryshev, leaving his keeper Igor Akifneev stranded and in the position of having conceded three goals at the tournament without making a save.<br /> <br /> Akinfeev did then come out to block a Rodrigo Bentancur chance, with Roman Zobnin just scrambling the rebound clear of Edinson Cavani, before Igor Smolnikov picked up a second yellow card and was sent off 35 minutes into his World Cup debut.<br /> <br /> After the break, Russia's 10 men composed themselves and at least managed to wrest back some control of the match, with Uruguay always looking dangerous but perhaps happy to concede possession and protect their lead.<br /> <br /> The hosts were rewarded with their best chances of the match, the first to Artem Dzuba, who fired wildly over the bar from inside the box, the second by Fedor Smelov, who dazzled to find space in behind the Uruguay defence but failed to pick out a team-mate with what looked to be an easy cut-back.<br /> <br /> But the final word was left to Cavani, who put several earlier misses behind him to get his first goal of the tournament by stabbing in from close range after an Akinfeev parry, ensuring Russia finished as runners-up.<br /> <h3 class="sp-story-body__cross-head"> Russia's party atmosphere falls flat</h3> You could say this was the first time Russia had faced quality opposition at this tournament, and for many the manner of this defeat will mark them out as vulnerable in the next round.<br /> Right from the outset, and even at the end when there was very little hope of a comeback emerging, there was much of the same remarkable vocal support from the stands. But on the pitch there was very little of the dynamism we saw from Russia's players in their opening two victories.<br /> <br /> Almost every set-piece was delivered too long, and there were so many key sloppy passes - like Yuri Gazinskiy's to begin the passage of play that led to Suarez scoring from a free-kick - or Mario Fernandes' when for once early in the second half Uruguay looked like they might be opened up.<br /> Perhaps the fact that Russia, the lowest ranked team here at 70 in the world, started this game having already qualified affected their approach. Perhaps it was the oppressive heat. Midfielder Aleksandr Golovin, one of their best performers here so far, was also rested.<br /> <br /> What is certain is that now, having finished second, Russia will play their next match at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, where they beat Saudia Arabia 5-0 in the tournament's opening match. It will be another sell-out partisan crowd.<br /> Their opponents there will be Spain - with the 2010 World Cup winners secure their place as Group B winners with a draw against Morocco.<br /> <h3> Suarez shows up as Uruguay maintain perfect start</h3> <a href="https://ofmtv.com/uruguay-vs-russia-3-0-goals-and-highlights-fifa-world-cup-2018/" target="_blank">Suarez free-kick gives Uruguay early lead</a><br /> There was very little doubt about who would win this game after an early period in which Russia were blown away.<br /> <br /> Suarez looked determined to impress after his poor opening match against Egypt, and it was his clever low free-kick that set the tone for what was a very comfortable victory.<br /> There was plenty of noise from the stands - so Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera will have had many quieter games in terms of volume - but he had little work to do as he became his country's all-time leading appearance maker at the World Cup.<br /> <br /> At his 14th match at the tournament, and on the occasion of his 100th cap, Uruguay simply out-performed Russia, and of course were for much of the game a player better off.<br /> There was even finally a goal for Cavani right at the end. For a long time it looked like it would not come as the Paris St-Germain striker endured a mostly frustrating evening.<br /> He missed three good chances before finally things fell into place as the rebound from an Akinfeev parry landed kindly at his feet.<br /> The Uruguay fans stayed long after the final whistle to cheer their team. For them it is three wins from three, but their next match will be a much more serious test.<br /> <h3> <a href="https://ofmtv.com/uruguay-vs-russia-3-0-goals-and-highlights-fifa-world-cup-2018/" target="_blank">Man of the match - Luis Suarez (Uruguay)</a></h3> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4QQwZxv0BUNeFHHgGzLsClzVsmf1U0Rwm_aPcQi6wJMoXVcQ790_YuMNMPPGFzFod2h8QezF7X04SJs7MXtSW79JbcAhDjTQNS0TEGwoDLqYDY_9DOl86u_FSg2J_Q3f_npEGIYC0kOK/s1600/suarez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="759" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4QQwZxv0BUNeFHHgGzLsClzVsmf1U0Rwm_aPcQi6wJMoXVcQ790_YuMNMPPGFzFod2h8QezF7X04SJs7MXtSW79JbcAhDjTQNS0TEGwoDLqYDY_9DOl86u_FSg2J_Q3f_npEGIYC0kOK/s640/suarez.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barcelona striker Luis Suarez (Left) moved one goal behind Uruguay's record goalscorer at the World Cup, Oscar Miguez, with his seventh in total and his second in Russia this summer</td></tr> </tbody></table> Barcelona striker Luis Suarez moved one goal behind Uruguay's record goalscorer at the World Cup, Oscar Miguez, with his seventh in total and his second in Russia this summer<br /> <h3> Russia need to score first - the stats</h3> <ul> <li>Uruguay have finished as first round group winners for the fifth time, having done so previously in 1930, 1950, 1954 and 2010.</li> <li>Russia are the first European side to fail to top their group as the host nation since Spain in 1982.</li> <li>Russia are now winless in each of their six World Cup matches in which they have conceded the first goal (D1 L5).</li> <li>Uruguay are the first side to win all three of their group games without conceding a single goal since Argentina in 1998 (seven goals scored, none conceded).</li> <li>Uruguay have won three consecutive World Cup matches against European opposition for the first time since a run of four straight victories between 1950 and 1954.</li> <li>Russia's Denis Cheryshev scored the sixth own goal at this year's tournament, the joint-most number of own goals at a single World Cup (also six in 1998).</li> <li>Russian defender Igor Smolnikov is the first outfield player to be sent off for the host nation of a World Cup since Marcel Desailly for France against Brazil in the 1998 final.</li> <li>Edinson Cavani became just the second player to score a goal in three separate World Cup tournaments for Uruguay (2010, 2014 and 2018) after his strike partner Luis Suarez.</li> <li>Fernando Muslera, celebrating his 100th cap in this game, became Uruguay's all-time leading appearance maker at the World Cup (14) overtaking Ladislao Mazurkiewicz.</li> </ul> <h3> 'We could have won by more' - what they said</h3> <b>Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez:</b> "Russia did not push us around, they tried to put us into a corner. Not only did we prevent them from doing that, but we put them in their half of the pitch in the first half. We could have won by even more goals.<br /> "We did not manage to score on certain counter-attacks that we should have. Sometimes the timing wasn't perfect. We need to improve very quickly, because any match in the round of 16 will be extremely difficult.<br /> "The result and to be top of our group pleased me most. We won by a wide margin but I like the fact that we didn't concede. We need to work towards that end. And I liked the dedication and concentration that my team had. They were focused from end to end, the entire squad. They executed the plan."<br /> <br /> <b>Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov: </b>"Even when we had 10 people on the pitch, they were running hard and they wanted to attack more. That's why I brought on a substitute.<br /> "Psychologically, we are well prepared for the next games.<br /> "This is one thing and when you come to the pitch to play the game it's another. This is an art to be prepared at any second."<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGwakUO3bJYX23Ij-IsqbsUaYDnuSm-oLnVl4zD2ZzseIRgZcf97AKdl4V5QC-RTvd9R8zFpLmnH0pYAGSuQyaXbDI7pd_6HL8kvXvXeNnnha8MaFaPrzPOw1YRWbUm8kSGy-DIyYppwS/s1600/Uruguay3-vs-Russia0.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="1043" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGwakUO3bJYX23Ij-IsqbsUaYDnuSm-oLnVl4zD2ZzseIRgZcf97AKdl4V5QC-RTvd9R8zFpLmnH0pYAGSuQyaXbDI7pd_6HL8kvXvXeNnnha8MaFaPrzPOw1YRWbUm8kSGy-DIyYppwS/s640/Uruguay3-vs-Russia0.PNG" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Source: BBC

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Featured FIFA World Cup Luis Suarez Oscar Miguez Russia football team Sports Stanislav Cherchesov Uruguay 3-0 Russia Uruguay Football Team Uruguay vs Russia FIFA World Cup 2018: Uruguay vs Russia [ 3-0 ] Goals and highlights

Uruguay vs Russia [ 3-0 ] Goals and highlights Russia's impressive start to the World Cup ended as they had a man sent off and were ...

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