Two goals – one in each half from Edinson Cavani — gave Uruguay a 2-1 win over Portugal. Even though the Uruguayans conceded for the first time in the 2018 World Cup, they march to the quarterfinal against France.
This could be the end of Cristiano Ronaldo, who at 33, must know he can not get his hands on the biggest football prize anymore and he still failed to score in the second round of the FIFA World Cup.
Uruguay were ahead as early as the seventh minute when Cavani and Luis Suarez exchanged passes from one end of the pitch to the other.
Suarez shimmied and produced a lovely cross right unto Cavani’s shoulder cum head and his effort eluded Rui Patricio for the opening goal. That was Suárez’s 12th assist for Cavani in his 44 goals for Uruguay.
Ronaldo almost had a chance at goal on 20 minutes but a timely clearance by Gimenez six yards was enough to keep Ronaldo at bay. Suarez made Patricio produce a one-handed save from a free kick in the 22nd minute.
Uruguay were quite comfortable, keeping the Portuguese at bay in the first half with constant running and tackling from Lucas Torreira, Matias Vecino, and Nahitan Nandez.
Portugal were level as from a short corner worked to Raphael Guerreiro in the 55th minute as Ronaldo took Godin away. It was a towering header from an unmarked Pepe – his sixth for his country.
Then the experienced defender had a head in gifting Uruguay the winner on 62 minutes. Bentancur got the ball off an errant header from Pepe and ran at the defence before picking out Cavani, who finished with a sumptuous curling shot.
Cristhian Stuani came on for Cavani, who was helped off the pitch by Ronaldo. Portugal’s captain then picked up the only yellow card of the match when he got in the face of Mexican referee, César Arturo Ramos Palazuelos in the fourth minute of added time.
On the same day, Ronaldo and Lionel Messi exited the World Cup without having ever scored in the second round of the competition.
