Artem Dzyuba of Russia celebrates during a 2018 FIFA World Cup Group A match. Photo by Chris Brunskill/UPI |
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June 19 (UPI) -- The Russian national team snatched another home win at the World Cup defeating Egypt 3-1 on Tuesday at the St. Petersburg Stadium, which saw an attendance of over 64,460 spectators.
Before tonight's match hosts Russia topped their Group A with three points after their confident 5-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the opening match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Moscow on June 14. Egypt lost its previous group stage match in Yekaterinburg allowing Uruguay to score in the closing minutes of the game on June 15.
Guests Egypt began the match with a strong possession of the ball, while hosts Russia went deep in the defense delivering counter attacks from time to time. However, ten minutes into the match, Russia regained the possession of the ball and launched a series of strikes on the Egyptian net, which either went wide or were saved by goalkeeper Mohamed Elshenawy.
Both teams gained a high tempo of the game as the opening half rolled on, but it ended scoreless despite numerous shots on the goal on behalf of both sides.
The score was opened two minutes into the second half, when a ball cannoned by Russia's Roman Zobnin ricocheted off Egypt's Ahmed Fathi into the right corner of the Egyptian net. Egypt's own goal put Russia in a 1-0 lead.
Several minutes later a referee handed out a yellow card to Egypt's Trezeguet for his rough collision with a Russian player.
A minute after the yellow card was flashed the Russians put another ball into the Egyptian net. The goal was scored by Denis Cheryshev from the cross-the-box assist delivered by Mario Fernandes.
The score of 2-0 remained flashing on the scoreboard for about two minutes as Russia's Artyom Dzyuba cannoned another ball past Elshenawy upping the score to 3-0.
Going on the offense against the Russian goal, Egypt's Mohamed Salah was hauled down inside the box in the 71st minute of the match and the referee ordered a penalty shot, which the Egyptian striker flawlessly executed putting the score at 3-1.
Russia is playing its final group stage match against Uruguay on June 25 in Samara, while the Egyptian national team is set to take on Saudi Arabia also next Monday in the city of Volgograd.
