Uruguay win first World Cup opening game since 1970 as Egypt remain winless
Jose Gimenez spared the blushes of Uruguay’s all-star forwards with a 90th-minute winner to see off Egypt 1-0 in their World Cup opener.
Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani each passed up opportunities to clinch the points against a Pharaohs side who kept Mohamed Salah on the bench, but it was centre-back Gimenez who proved the hero.
After the excitement of Group A rivals Russia’s goal frenzy a day earlier, there was a serious lack of invention on show in Ekaterinburg.
Suarez missed two golden chances as goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy excelled, before Cavani struck the post with a late free-kick, seemingly sealing a point for Egypt on their 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 are now under pressure heading into a clash with Russia, while Uruguay – and particularly Suarez – can breathe a sigh of relief.
#EGYURU | Final del partido en el Arena Ekaterimburgo.@Pharaohs 0-1 @Uruguay
Gol: 89´ José María Giménez (URU)#ElEquipoQueNosUne pic.twitter.com/8elbzOk2Pn
— Selección Uruguaya (@Uruguay) June 15, 2018
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.
2 – Uruguay defender José Giménez has now scored in consecutive appearances for the national team (also against Uzbekistan). Breakthrough. #EGYURU #URU #WorldCup
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 15, 2018
Key Opta stats:
– Uruguay have won their opening match at a World Cup tournament for the first time since 1970, when they beat Israel.
– Egypt are 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).
