Hosts Russia through a second half blitz that yielded three goals, moved to the brink of a place in the knockout rounds following a 3-1 victory over Egypt in group A’ action at the FIFA World Cup in st Petersburg today.
Russia, who beat Saudi Arabia 5-0 in their opening game, took the lead thanks to a bizarre 47th-minute own goal from Ahmed Fathi, who diverted roman Zobnin’s shot into his own net.
Denis Cheryshev doubled Russia’s advantage before Artem Dzyuba sealed the victory with a fine individual goal.
Liverpool forward Salah, playing for the first time since sustaining a shoulder injury in the champion’s league final, converted a penalty after he had been fouled – but it was not enough to mount an Egypt fight back.
Russia will qualify for the last 16 and Egypt will be eliminated from the competition if Saudi Arabia fail to beat Uruguay tomorrow.
Meanwhile Senegal became the first African team to win at the 2018 world cup after overcoming Poland 2-1.
The lions of Teranga had taken the lead shortly before the break when a shot from Everton’s Idrissa Gu-eye took a huge deflection off the unfortunate Thiago Cionek.
Senegal extended their lead when M’baye Niang sprinted back on to the field of play after injury and immediately intercepted a back pass from midfield, beating the goal keeper and a defender to the ball before slotting into an empty net
Grzegorz Kry-chowiak then headed home a free-kick at the far post for Poland’s consolation goal late in the contest
Earlier japan became the first Asian side to beat a south American team at a FIFA world cup finals after notching up a 2-1 win in their group ‘h’ opener against 10-man Colombia.
Japan took the early lead through a Shinji Kagawa penalty in the third minute after Carlos Sanchez was red carded after just two minutes and 56 seconds for handling the ball.
Colombia however pulled level through a Juan Quintero free-kick in the 39th minute before Yuya Osako restored Japan’s lead in the 73rd minute.
Quintero with that strike became the first Colombian player to score in two different world cups having also hit the target at Brazil 2014.
The red card to Sanchez was also the second fastest shown in world cup history after Jose Alberto Batista of Uruguay who was sent off after just 54 seconds against Scotland in 1986.