World Cup day 2: Uruguay def. Egypt, Iran def. Morocco, Spain draws with Portugal
HOURS after being hit with a $29 million fine, Cristiano Ronaldo bounced back with a stunning powerplay sending Cup fans bananas.
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- Ronaldo hit with whopping fine
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- Bonkers stadium makes debut
- Robbie facing Russian wrath
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Day two of the 2018 World Cup was highlighted by a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick for Portugal.
A CRISTIANO Ronaldo masterclass in Sochi carried Portugal to a stunning draw with Spain as the legendary striker claimed his 51st career hat-trick.
The huge match day kicked off with Uruguay claiming a win over Egypt with a goal in the dying minutes. Iran endured a nightmare start to their World Cup campaign after Nike pulled their equipment, but the luck was in their favour as they defeated Morocco thanks to an own-goal.
6am
Freak Ronaldo seals a draw in Cup thriller
Legendary forward Cristiano Ronaldo stole back a draw in the dying minutes of Portugal’s Group clash against Spain, sealing his 51st career hat-trick with a stunning free kick.
The action kicked off early after Ronaldo was granted a penalty in the box following a knock from Spain’s Jose “Nacho” Iglesias in the 3rd minute.
The Real Madrid star slotted in the free kick with ease to put the underdogs ahead before anybody could blink.
Spain hit back soon after in the 24th minute with an incredible effort from Diego Costa, who sliced through three defenders with relative ease before finding the back of the net to level the score.
The Spaniards kept ample pressure on the men in red all the way up until halftime with the passing delights of their front four forcing the opposition’s defence to work overtime.
But a momentary passage of play in the waning seconds before the break saw Ronaldo through for a second and leave the Portuguese on top.
A long ball from the midfield found its way to Ronaldo’s boot. A quick step around the final defender left the Real Madrid star one-on-one with goalkeeper David De Gea, who fudged his save and handed Portugal the lead.
Costa scored his second goal of the night shortly after after cleaning up a header from teammate Sergio Busquets following a free kick in the 55th minute.
The Spaniard was joined on the scoreboard by teammate Jose “Nacho” Iglesias after a stylish procession of play saw him left open for a long shot on goal. The defender curled the ball perfectly past goalkeeper Rui Patrício’s glove and brought the score to 3-2 with half an hour remaining on the clock.
Cristiano Ronaldo made it a hat-trick late in the piece after slotting in a beautiful free kick, curving the ball over the wall and into the back of the net to leave the score at 3-3 with a minute left on the clock.
1,2 and 3.
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) June 15, 2018
It was @Cristiano's night in Sochi.#PORESP#OptusSport #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/Epztci9iNB
I hereby declare Ronaldo is GOD!!!!! #Hattie #WorldCup #Beast
— Crash Gladys (@CrashGladys) June 15, 2018
I’ve always been messi over anything.... but it’s getting pretty hard when ronaldo does this. Always on the biggest stage of all. Absolutely unbelievable.
— Max Bowden (@MaxBowden) June 15, 2018
Imagine thinking Ronaldo isn’t the GOAT. pic.twitter.com/lnTUE2lNpS
— Jordan (@JordySloan) June 15, 2018
3am
Match report — Morocco vs. Iran
For the second straight game a last minute header has been the decider, only this time it was an own goal that separated the teams.
Morocco dominated the contest against Iran but couldn’t capitalise and were left distraught after Aziz Bouhaddouz headed the ball into his own net with less than two minutes remaining.
The goal handed the three points to Iran and as the Morocco players walked off dejected, the Iranian players did laps of glory and soaked in the momentous occasion.
As a part of Group B with Portugal and Spain, Morocco will rue their plethora of missed
opportunities in a game they shouldn’t have lost.
Iran were outclassed for the majority of the contest and their only shot on goal in the second half came courtesy of the own-goal.
A capacity crowd of 62,548 inside Saint Petersburg Stadium took in the contest and couldn’t quite believe what they had witnessed in front of their eyes.
Not a good look, Morocco. pic.twitter.com/0UM39fqCtH
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) June 15, 2018
The win is only the second in the history of Iran at the World Cup and one they’ll be remembering for a long time.
Iran defeats Morocco 1-0 on an own goal in stoppage time.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 15, 2018
It is the latest regulation own goal in in World Cup history (2nd-latest overall), and the latest own goal to give a team the lead at the #WorldCup#IRN gets its 2nd ever win at the World Cup pic.twitter.com/LKKFkIRLLC
2.45am
Teams announced
One of the most highly anticipated group games isn’t far from getting underway and the team sheets are in.
Portugal will lock horns with Spain in a contest that wouldn’t look out of place if the Cup was on the line.
Meanwhile, in Sochi...
— FIFA World Cup 🆠(@FIFAWorldCup) June 15, 2018
The teams for #PORESP have been confirmed 👀 pic.twitter.com/1PdWyonEQ9
1am
Ronaldo hit with whopping fine
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has agreed to pay the Spanish taxman $29m (AUD) to settle a tax fraud claim, a legal source said Friday.
The agreement between the fiscal authorities and the advisers of the star, currently at the World Cup with Portugal, still has to be ratified and will likely come with a two-year jail term — although sentences of up to two years are not generally served in Spain.
The former Manchester United player, who is at the World Cup on the back of a third straight Champions League title with Real, appeared in court last July at Pozuelo de Alarcon, a wealthy Madrid suburb, to answer four counts of tax evasion.
Prosecutors allege the five-time Ballon d’Or winner took “advantage of a company structure created in 2010 to hide income generated in Spain from his image rights from tax authorities”.
He is alleged to have used companies in low-tax foreign jurisdictions — notably the British Virgin Islands and Ireland — to avoid having to pay the tax otherwise due.
— AFP
12.10am
Full Time — Uruguay vs. Egypt
For 90 minutes the tussle between Uruguay and Egypt looked destined to end in a stalemate, then Jose Maria Gimenez headed home the sealer and handed the three points to Uruguay with the 1-0 win.
Without their superstar striker Mohamed Salah taking part in the contest, Egypt had their backs up against the wall but made the majority of the early running.
Despite constant surges down the wings and into the penalty box they weren’t able to crack the Uruguay defences.
After absorbing and blocking every chance Egypt attempted, Uruguay then wrestled back control and should have taken the lead in the opening half but Luiz Suarez’s close range shot slammed into the side netting.
Wow. Cannot believe Luis Suarez has just missed that. He scuffs a clear chance at the back post when wide open. Look of disbelief on his face. Big let off for Egypt#EGY 0-0 #URU #WorldCup
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) June 15, 2018
As the second half got underway it became clear the momentum sat squarely behind Uruguay and their repeat entries into the attacking third began to take affect on Egypt.
Suarez was left to rue multiple missed opportunities as he saw two more close range shots miss their intended target.
They went agonisingly close when Edinson Cavani’s free kick attempt slammed off the post and wasn’t able to be helped into the open net as Egypt defenders claoumered to clear their area.
Gimenez rose to meet a Carlos Sanchez free kick to take the South Americans to three points alongside Russia, who beat Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the tournament opener, and break the resistance of Egypt.
“They’ve just broken Egyptian hearts,” one commentator proclaimed.
A late all-out attack came up empty for Egypt as the cameras panned to a solemn looking Salah sitting on the bench.
Gimenez secured Uruguay’s first win in a World Cup opening game since 1970 when they went on to the semi-finals.
Egypt are yet to win a World Cup game and face the hosts Russia on Wednesday while Uruguay will expect to account for Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
What a finish! #WorldCup@Uruguay leave it late, but do enough to get the win. #EGYURU 0-1 pic.twitter.com/UmKN1f6YwO
— FIFA World Cup 🆠(@FIFAWorldCup) June 15, 2018
— with AAP
10.40pm
Live stream angers World Cup fans
One of the biggest sporting events on the globe has had a less than ideal beginning with the second game of the tournament being plagued by major glitch issues.
Football fans across Australia took to social media to vent their frustrations towards the host broadcaster. The backlash came in thick and fast and lasted throughout the opening game.
9.55pm
Bonkers new stadium makes debut
The second clash f the 2018 World Cup and although two of the bigger names in the game of football will be taking part, the sight of the stadium has stolen the limelight.
FIFA requirements state stadiums must be able to seat a capacity of 35,000 and with Russia opting to use Ekaterinburg arena, some modifications were required.
Two temporary stands were hastily constructed in time for the tournament, but the most striking feature is they’re located on the outside of the stadium.
An aerial view of the stadium makes it look more like a futuristic starship than football stadium.
With the first game set to get underway an apparent 12,000 fans will fill the temporary stands from an elevated view of 45m from the highest point.
Despite the allure of the impressive looking stadium it failed to sell out with FIFA investigating the lack in attendance.
Pockets of orange seats were clearly visible in the lower tiers of the stadium which has a 33,061 capacity for World Cup games.
FIFA says it allocated 32,278 tickets and the official attendance was 27,015.
— with AP
6.30pm
Robbie Williams facing a fine for flipping the bird
Robbie Williams could be fined for sticking his middle finger up during the World Cup opening ceremony under Russia’s “no swearing” law.
The singer shocked crowds when he swore at the camera just moments after changing the lyrics of Rock DJ to “I did this for free”.
But Robbie faces the wrath of Russian officials after a ban was introduced in 2014 prohibiting “foul language” in public performances, The Sun reports.
New legislation — signed off by Vladimir Putin in May — means those who get caught swearing in public could be fined up to 2,500 roubles ($54).
And businesses could be fined 50,000 roubles ($1070) for using foul language.
The country has clamped down on swearing in recent years with films containing crude words not widely distributed.
And books, CDs and DVDs containing swear words come sealed and labelled as obscene.
But the ban doesn’t cover what words constitute an offence and whether it stretches to rude gestures like Robbie’s.
A further law was introduced the year before that, restricting the use of profanities by the media.
Together, the laws are an uncomfortable reminder of how freedom of expression is being encroached upon by the Russian state.
The singer was performing his hit song at the Luzhniki Stadium as the tournament got underway when he stuck his middle finger up.
— Holly Christodoulou, thesun.co.uk
Originally published as World Cup day 2: Uruguay def. Egypt, Iran def. Morocco, Spain draws with Portugal
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