Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah was kept on the bench with Egypt not looking to rush him back from injury. Luis Suarez missed a golden chance to put Uruguay ahead after hitting the side-netting from a few yards out. Just moments into the second half, Egypt No 1 Mohamed Elshenawy saved brilliantly to deny Suarez again. However, in the 89th minute, Jose Gimenez popped up with an emphatic winning header for Uruguay.
Egypt 0 - 1 Uruguay
Moroco 0-1 Iran
It was a gamble that so nearly paid off but football is a game of small margins and that’s why Mohamed Salah winced with the sheer agony of defeat near the end.
Egypt thought they had escaped with leaving him on the bench, recovering from the shoulder injury which had made his presence here such a source of conjecture these past three weeks. But after 89 minutes in which the game’s other top-billed player, Luis Suarez, spectacularly failed to show up, defender Jose Gimenez leapt to head home a free-kick and launch Uruguay towards the knockout stage.
Salah has assumed such a hallowed place in the football firmament that Pele - or his people - tweeted him 'happy birthday' when the day of the African nation’s return to the World Cup finally dawned. But his place on the bench punctured the spirits of the hundreds who’d walked up to the stadium in the sunshine with his name on their backs and Uruguay’s arch assassin was also absent in all but name.
Jose Gimenez popped up with an 89th-minute winner for Uruguay as they beat Egypt 1-0 to kick off their World Cup
Gimenez jumped higher than his opposition to brilliantly head home into the corner of the net for the Uruguayans
Gimenez sees his emphatic header from a free-kick nestle into the corner as both sets of players watch on
The 23-year-old centre back wheels off to celebrate after netting the only goal of the game in the tight Group A clash
He celebrates with his team-mates after heading home the winner right at the death
Carlos Sanchez tackles Gimenez to the ground following what had been a very frustrating afternoon for Uruguay
Gimenez is bundled by his Uruguay team-mates after he clinched them a vital three points in their opening World Cup game
Luis Suarez put in a horror performance, missing three key chances for Oscar Tabarez's outfit on Friday
Saurez missed a brilliant chance just moments into the second period after his close-range effort was saved
Mohamed Elshenawy comes out quickly to deny Suarez from netting the opening goal of the World Cup affair
The 31-year-old kicks the advertising hoarding in frustration after missing yet another opportunity at the Ekaterinburg Arena
Edinson Cavani hit the post for Uruguay just moments before the winner, with Elshenawy left stranded
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