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2018 FIFA World Cup – PQF: Hosts Russia upset Spain on penalties!

The 2018 FIFA World Cup continued on Sunday, July 1 afternoon with the hosts Russia upsetting former champions Spain in dramatic fashion on penalties at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

Spain after a below par performance in the group stage were the favourites to move past the hosts Russia and they had as expected more of the ball from the start, but needed a free-kick from Asensio in the 12th minute which Sergey Ignashevich under pressure of Sergio Ramos put the ball into his own net.

Thereafter nothing much happened until the 41st minute as Russia were awarded a penalty as Gerard Piqué handled the ball in the area and it was Artyom Dzyuba who banged the ball in for a surprising equaliser.

Spain upped the tempo in the second session but chances were not to seen at both ends as Russia defended deep, so the game went into extra-time.

Spain had the rare chance in extra-time, but possession doesn’t mean goals, so the match went into a penalty shootout. There Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev became the hero with two saves against Koke and Iago Aspas as Russia won 4-3 on penalties.

FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 – Pre-Quarterfinal

Spain 3-4,1-1 (1-1) Russia [on penalties]

Goals: 1-0 Sergey Ignashevich (12′ own Goal), 1-1 Artyom Dzyuba (41′ pen)

Penalties: 1-0 Iniesta, 1-1 Smolov, 2-1 Piqué, 2-2 Ignashevich, 2-2 Koke (save), 2-3 Golovin, 3-3 Sergio Ramos, 3-4 Cheryshev, 3-4 Iago Aspas (saved)

Spain: de Gea – Nacho (70′ Carvajal), Gerard Piqué, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba – Koke, Busquets – Asensio (104′ Rodrigo Moreno), Silva (67′ Iniesta), Isco – Diego Costa (80′ Iago Aspas)
Subs: Kepa, Reina, Azpilicueta, Monreal, Odriozola, Saul Niguez, Thiago, Vazquez

Russia: Akinfeev – Mario Fernandes, Kutepov, Ignashevich, Kudryashov, Zhirkov (46′ Granat) – Samedov (61′ Cheryshev), Zobnin, Kuzyaev (97′ Erokhin), Golovin – Dzyuba (65′ Smolov)
Subs: Gabulov, Lunev, Semyonov, Dzagoev, Gazinsky, Al. Miranchuk, An. Miranchuk

Referee: Björn Kuipers (Netherlands)

Man of the Match: Igor Akinfeev (Russia)

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