US: Norway national football team supporters gather in Times Square ahead of World Cup match.
US: Norway national football team supporters gather in Times Square ahead of World Cup match.
It was another busy night of action at a dramatic World Cup that continues to thrill and surprise in equal measure.
A hectic day 11 at the expanded tournament in North America began with Spain bouncing back in style from their shock opening stalemate with debutants Cape Verde as they thrashed Saudi Arabia in Group H.
The reigning European champions were 3-0 up inside the first 24 minutes in a ruthless showing in Atlanta, with Real Sociedad forward Mikel Oyarzabal netting a quick-fire brace having already assisted teenage superstar Lamine Yamal’s first World Cup goal just 10 minutes into his maiden start after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente withdrew both Yamal and Oyarzabal at half-time, though quickly extended their lead after the interval courtesy of an own goal from the unlucky Hassan Al-Tambakti. A last-gasp fifth from Ferran Torres was disallowed for offside following a VAR review.
It was an ominous statement from La Roja, who look to have clicked into gear at the second attempt after being held by Cape Verde, who continue to prove one of the biggest stories of this World Cup.
Buoyed by that incredible draw against Spain that went down as arguably one of the biggest ever World Cup shocks and owed so much to the heroics of 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, the Blue Sharks were at it again in Miami on Sunday night as they kept their knockout hopes alive with another remarkable result against struggling Uruguay.
Kevin Pina scored Cape Verde’s maiden World Cup finals goal with a free-kick after 21 minutes, with Helio Varela later profiting from an error from Mathias Olivera after Uruguay had turned the match around courtesy of goals from Maxi Araujo and Agustin Canobbio.
A thrilling finish to another truly memorable game saw Uruguay star Federico Valverde have a close-range effort ruled out for offside.
Cape Verde will feel they now have a real chance to make the last 32 in a massive upset as they prepare to meet Saudi Arabia in Houston on Saturday, while Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay will now have to produce a positive result against Spain if they are to avoid an embarrassing group stage exit.
After Belgium had laboured to a goalless draw with spirited Iran earlier in Los Angeles, Sunday’s World Cup fare concluded in Group G in Vancouver, where Mohamed Salah was the star as Egypt finally ended their long wait for a World Cup victory.
The soon-to-be former Liverpool forward scored his country’s second goal in a 3-1 comeback win over New Zealand, also assisting Trezeguet from a corner after Finn Surman’s early opener for the All Whites had been cancelled out after half-time by Mostafa Zico.
It was Egypt’s first-ever World Cup win in their fourth appearance at the finals, where they have previously played eight times without success. They are now on four points after drawing with Belgium in their opener, which will have them on course for the last 32.