Russia 2018, Group A, Egypt v Uruguay as it happened: Gimenez scores late, breaks Pharaohs’ hearts

07:40 pm: Wrapping up...

Los Charruas edge out Egypt, who hung on for dear life for the last 10 minutes. Uruguay win their opening game in the World Cup for the first time in 48 years. That’s it from us for this game, the next game is Morocco vs Iran (Asia’s biggest hope) and the live blog for that is up and running here....

Here’s how the table looks like in Group A.

FULL-TIME STATISTICS: Egypt defended staunchly for long periods but Jose Gimenez’s 89th-minute header is the difference between the two teams. Heartbreaking for Hector Cuper’s side (and spare a thought for the GK El Shenawy) but Oscar Tabarez will be delighted

STAT ALERT:

Uruguay start off with a win, heartbreak for Egypt: But that was anything but easy! The Egyptians, back at the World Cup after 28 years, gave a great account of themselves in the absence of their talisman. They defended well, created chances but disappointed in the final third. Uruguay meanwhile had to huff and puff to blow the house down late into the match. Egypt know they can defeat Saudi Arabia and Russia if it comes to that and perhaps that’s why Salah was protected tonight. Tough to say.

FULL-TIME: Egypt try hard but they are out of gas... and more importantly, out of time. Suarez buys a few more seconds by rolling down on the floor and that will be it. Uruguay finally win their opening World Cup match after 1970!

INTO EXTRA TIME, Egypt 0-1 Uruguay

Four minutes of five completed, and Egypt might be down to 10 it looks like. Uruguay driving forward too but Egypt have the ball with a minute left. The crosses coming in...

INTO EXTRA TIME, Egypt 0-1 Uruguay

Heartbreak for Cuper’s Pharaohs! They held on admirably for so long... the delight on Uruguay’s players’ faces says it all really as does the exasperation on Salah’s.

89th min: GOAALLLLLLL! Uruguay take the lead late in the game. And wouldn’t you know, it’s from a set-piece. Gimenez with a powerful header, from a freekick down the right. And El Shenawy has no chance,

88th min: OFF THE BAR! Wow. Cavani’s freekick is brilliant but it looked like the goalkeeper got a hand to it, and it comes off the post! Uruguay are pushing and pushing here.

After 87 mins, Egypt 0-0 Uruguay - NO MO SALAH TONIGHT

Egypt meanwhile made their final sub a few minutes back. And 87th min, a freekick from a dangerous position...

Final sub: RAMADAN (IN) REPLACES WARDA (OUT) (EGYPT)

83rd minute: WHAT A SAVE! Wonderful, wonderful effort from Cavani after good link-up with Suarez, his powerful shot from edge of the box was heading into the top corner and the goalkeeper dives to his left and palms it away! Great reflexes.

After 82 mins, it’s Egypt 0-0 Uruguay

Chance for Elneny! A counterattack peters out in pace but Egypt retain the ball, build patiently down the right and the ball eventually falls to the Arsenal man in the box, he chips, and it goes over.

After 79 mins, it’s Egypt 0-0 Uruguay

Uruguay cannot find a way past the Egypt backline and the ball breaks for Kahraba – who puts in a wonderful run down the left and his final ball is hacked clear by Caceres. Egypt threatening on the counter.

After 75 mins, it’s Egypt 0-0 Uruguay

Suarez cuts a frustrated figure after that miss..

After 74 mins Egypt 0-0 Uruguay

74th min and it’s a big chance for Suarez! Cavani with a lovely dink through ball that pierces the defence and sends Suarez free down the left. Hegazi almost went into challenge, but pulls away but El Shenawy goes down and plucks the ball out of Suarez’s feet. The Barca man took too long to get his shot away there but brave goalkeeping! Earlier at the other end, Egypt right back fires a shot at Muslera but straight at him.

After 67 mins, Egypt 0-0 Uruguay

Uruguay certainly seem to have more purpose going forward now after the subsitutions. Sanchez and Rodriguez have added to their intensity. Kahraba (another sub) also involved in attack since coming on, his shot from the right blocked and gathered by Muslera.

63rd minute: Egypt make their second change of the match as Marwan Mohsen is taken off for Kahraba, also nicknamed ‘Electricity’. Still, no sign of Salah... one substitution left. Uruguay on the ascendancy.

DID YOU KNOW: One of the stands at the Ekaterinburg stadium extends out of the arena as the organisers had to add to the seating capacity without tearing up the stadium –- it is not for those afraid of heights!

After 59 mins, Egypt 0-0 Uruguay

As we head to the hour mark, Tabarez makes two changes, two veterans enter the pitch:

CARLOS SANCHEZ (IN) REPLACES N. NANDEZ (OUT) (URUGUAY)

CHRISTIAN RODRIGUEZ (IN) REPLACES G. DE ARRASCAETA (OUT) (URUGUAY)

After 55 mins, Egypt 0-0 Uruguay

It’s calmed down a bit again after a manic start but half-chances (well, quarter-chances really) at both ends. A cross from the right by Hernandez finds Suarez who controls it very well over his head, but he’s dispossessed just as he was shaping to have a go. Trezeguet finds himself in space at the other end but his shot his wild.

After 51 mins, Egypt 0-0 Uruguay

An early substitution for Egypt and this doesn’t look good. The busy-bee of their midfield Tarek Ahmed looked like he had taken a knock at the end of the first half and his match is over early now. Sam Morsy comes on.

A fast-paced start to the second half, by the way.

46th minute: Big chance, Uruguay!

WHAT A SAVE! El Shenawy pulls off a brave spot at his near post as Cavani puts Suarez through on goal with a chipped through ball. Suarez’s run is excellent and takes him behind the defender, and his shot on target is knee’d away by the GK.

More first half stats: Will we see more of Cavani and Suarez in the second half? Will we see Salah in action if it remains 0-0? Let’s wait and watch.

Teams walk out for the second half...

STAT ALERT: Star man kept quiet by Egyptians...

FIRST HALF STATISTICS: Uruguay have 57% possession at half-time, and have completed 233 passes to Egypt’s 149. The Pharoahs have made more tackles, blocks and have recovered more balls as compared to the South Americans.

HALF-TIME: Egypt 0-0 Uruguay

It’s goalless at half-time as the referee blows the whistle when a Godin-led counterattack fizzles out as Suarez is dispossessed. Been that kind of a half. Egypt will be the happier side!

After 44 mins, Egypt 0-0 Uruguay

Chances at both ends but once again no finishing touch. Trezeguet with a weak shot on Uruguay’s goal, and from the break, the final ball from the right evades Suarez.

After 41 mins Egypt 0-0 Uruguay

Lull in the game as both teams are perhaps looking to go into half time without conceding a lead.

After 37 mins, Egypt 0-0 Uruguay

Patient build-up from Uruguay but they fluff the final ball on two occasions in that phase of play. Varela involved on both occasions down the right, but it’s easy defending for the Egyptians.

After 33 mins, Egypt 0-0 Uruguay

A freekick for Uruguay fair distance outside the box, but Suarez goes for goal and hits the wall. Nothing comes from the rebound. Another round of cheers for Salah when he’s on screen.

After 29 mins, Egypt 0-0 Uruguay

Egypt regroup after a series of chances for Uruguay. Tarek and Elneny keeping things tidy in the midfield while Warda, hugging the right touchline, is providing the outlet. Uruguay have another long shot that trickles wide.

After 23 mins, Egypt 0-0 Uruguay

GOAAA.... No, not yet. Even the commentator was fooled by that one as it looked like Suarez had found the net – turns out it was the side-netting. Uruguay threaten from a series of corners but Egypt somehow hang on. Just before that Suarez chance, Cavani forced a corner with a well-taken left foot volley that was headed over the goal.

After 17 mins, Egypt 0-0 Uruguay

Bentancur (keep an eye out for him) bundles Warda over just outside the box and it’s a free-kick from a great position for Egypt. A good delivery to the far post results in a scramble but Uruguay manage to clear.

Meanwhile Salah is shown on the big screen and the birthday boy is greeted with loud cheers!

After 14 mins, Egypt 0-0 Uruguay

And 12 mins into the game we have a short on target from both teams- Saudi Arabia had NONE last night. Egypt build up nicely and after a scrappy interchange just outside the box, it falls to Trezeguet but his final shot is right at Muslera. Good phase for Egypt now followed by a chance for Suarez who flashes wide.

After 8 mins, Egypt 0-0 Uruguay

Egypt trying to press high up early on, but happy to concede possession to Uruguay. The go on the offensive with Cavani on the left assisted by Caceres. That move peters out, but Cavani comes again cutting in from the left and his shot is saved easily. Good spell for Uruguay though.

After 3 mins, Egypt 0-0 Uruguay

Uruguay, in their all-white, start with a dominating spell of possession that break downs when Suarez tries a chip through the middle. Egypt have the ball for the first time, playing around in the back. Cavani on the ground after an early foul. Didn’t really look that bad.

05:30 pm: And we are underway!

Meanwhile...

05:28 pm: Alright we are all set! Uruguay are expected to dominate this group, can they get off to a winning start? Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers, who is officiating in his second World Cup, also took charge of the 2018 Europa League final. He’ll have his hands full as we’re mere seconds away from kick-off.

05:25 pm: Meanwhile, India have just wrapped up a two-day win against Afghanistan. Brutal. The visitors bowled out twice in the day.

05:18 pm: How teams are lining up... (Images courtesy: Fifa World Cup / Twitter)

05:10 pm: Luis Suarez and World Cups...

Sent off for a deliberate handball in Uruguay’s quarter-final win over Ghana in South Africa 2010, Suarez was banned for four months for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder four years later in Brazil.

With the Italians protesting to the referee for not penalising Suarez, Uruguay won a corner and scored to eliminate Italy with a 1-0 victory in the group stages.

Suarez did not escape punishment, however, and FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee handed him a nine-match ban, two days after the match, ruling him out for the rest of the tournament and the 2-0 defeat to Colombia in the Round of 16.

05:05 pm: What a moment for Egyptians...

05:00 pm: Both the lineups right here... is this going to be a Suarez-Cavani show?

04:50 pm: Both Cavani and Suarez start for Uruguay...

Starting XI: Muslera; Varela, Godín, Giménez, Cáceres; Nandez, Bentancur; Vecino, De Arrascaeta, Suárez; Cavani

Subs: Silva, Campana, Coates, Pereira, Silva, Laxalt, Rodriguez, Torreira, Urretaviscaya, Sanchez, Gomez, Stuani

04:40 pm: Egypt have never won a game at the World Cup finals, having played four matches previously. You’d think that record will change this year for sure, even if not tonight.

04:30 pm: In their last six World Cup opening fixtures Uruguay have drawn thrice and lost thrice. The last time they won their opening match at the World Cup was in 1970.

04:20 pm: Egypt’s Argentinean coach Hector Cuper was speaking about the possibility of not having Salah in the XI, adamant that his team is not dependent on one man.

“I understand that the supporters sometimes have other expectations. Salah is the star but it’s possible that a goalkeeper or a defender will come to the rescue. And then there are the midfielders, who do a lot of running for the team.”

“Even against Argentina I want to win. I’ve been working here for three and a half years and I’ve become Egyptian. I want to lead the national team to victory.”

04:15 pm: Guess what Suarez has been practising ahead of this match? *wink wink*

04:10 pm: Here’s some reading for you ahead of the more serious business that will soon begin. The most iconic World Cup photos. Some stunners in here.

04:05 pm: Egypt are back at the biggest stage in football after a long gap of 28 years! Their last match was against England in the 1990 World Cup.

03:55 pm: Early news is that Salah doesn’t start this match.

03:45 pm: Hello all and welcome to the live blog of the second match of Russia 2018. It’s a crucial clash between Egypt and Uruguay – a match that will have a lot of impact on who progresses at what position from Group A. All eyes, right now, are on Mo Salah and whether he will make it to the starting lineup.

And what do you know, it’s his birthday as well.