Egyptian striker Mohamed Sala (right) is dejected while Russia's players celebrate one of their goals on Tuesday (beinsports.com photo)
Host nation Russia have virtually booked their spot in the round of 16 stage while Senegal and Japan pulled off upsets on Tuesday’s 6th day of the FIFA Wolrd Cup in Russia. Free-scoring Russia's World Cup dream continued with an emphatic 3-1 victory over Egypt in their second Group A match in St Petersburg.
The win gives the hosts six points from their opening two games and puts them in pole position to advance after outscoring their opponents 8-1 thus far in the tournament. A 47th minute own goal along with strikes by Denis Cheryshev and Artem Dzyuba in the 59th and 62nd minutes respectively, accounted for Russia’s tally, while Mohamed Salah, who played for the first time since injuring his shoulder in Liverpool's Champions League final defeat against Real Madrid last month, scored Egypt’s lone goal from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute. Egypt will need a Uruguay loss in Wednesday’s match against Saudi Arabia to avoid elimination.
Meanwhile, Senegal recorded the first victory by an African team at the ongoing World Cup after edging Poland 2-1.
The Senegalese took the lead in the 37th minute when a shot from Idrissa Gueye took a huge deflection off Thiago Cionek who was credited with an own goal. Mbaye Niang doubled their lead in scoring what turned out to be the winner in the 60th minute.
Grzegorz Krychowiak gave Polish fans some late hope when he scored in the 86th minute but there was to be no last minute heroics from the Poles. Earlier, Japan secured a 2-1 victory against 10-man Colombia in their Group H opener in Saransk.
Colombia conceded a penalty and had a man sent off inside three minutes, with Carlos Sanchez dismissed for handling Shinji Kagawa's shot at a goal. After the first red card shown at this World Cup and the second fastest in history at two minutes 56 seconds, Kagawa scored the spot-kick.
Juan Quintero equalized for the Colombians in the 39th minute but Yuya Osako’S 73rd minute winner meant the Japanese avenged their 4-1 mauling in the group stages of Brazil 2014. This was the first time Japan had won a World Cup game on European soil and the first time they had beaten a side from South America at the tournament.
In Thursday’s games, Portugal will face Morocco; Uruguay meet Saudi Arabia and Iran take on Spain.
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