Jose Maria Gimenez sparred Luis Suarez’s blushes as Uruguay struck late to claim a 1-0 win over Egypt in their Group A opener.
The Atletico Madrid defender headed home Carlos Sanchez’s 89th-minute free-kick as Oscar Tabarez’s side laboured their way to victory in a match which Suarez ought to have put out of sight much earlier.
Uruguay, pre-tournament dark horses, were unable to impose themselves on an Egypt side who offered next to nothing to test them without their talismanic forward Mohamed Salah, left on the bench as he continues to recover from the shoulder injury he suffered in the Champions League Final.
Juventus midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur allowed Uruguay to dictate the midfield battle but when La Celeste got into the final third. Edinson Cavani could scarcely get on the ball – he only touched it 17 times in the first half – whilst when it came to Luis Suarez nothing went right.
A free-kick from 25 yards out crashed into the wall and even when he got closer in Suarez couldn’t take his chances. A corner from the right evaded everyone but the Barcelona forward, who, from less than six yards out, contrived to volley into the side-netting.
Indeed it seemed that only Diego Godin was aware he was playing in a World Cup game. Of course he kept the Egyptian attack at bay but such were his side’s struggles he felt compelled to step into midfield, driving past two defenders before slipping in a perfectly-judged through ball for Giorgian De Arrascaeta. His first touch sent the ball fizzing out for a goal kick.
Suarez’s struggles continued into the second half, when goalkeeper Ahmed El-Shenawy blocked his volley after Edinson Cavani had pounced on an error by Ahmed Hegazi.
As Uruguay’s struggles intensified Egypt grew more optimistic on the break, a pot-shot from right back Ahmed Fathy well held by Fernando Muslera. Seconds later Suarez had his big chance, once more played in behind by Cavani.
One-on-one with El-Shenawy all that was needed was a shot but Suarez, he of 152 club goals in the last four years, panicked and ran the ball straight into the goalkeeper’s arms.
Cavani provided more incision but his crisp volley from the edge of the box was not enough to beat El-Shenawy. Even when the Egypt goalkeeper was beaten luck was not on Uruguay’s side, as the Paris Saint-Germain striker’s free-kick did not quite curl back enough.
That effort inspired Uruguay to raise their intensity in the closing minutes and they got their reward in the dying minutes as Gimenez outjumped Elneny to earn three vital points that took his country level on points with hosts Russia at the top of Group A.
