Russia shocked Spain 4-3 on penalties to knock the former champions out of the 2018 World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Sunday. Host nation Russia, who are the lowest-ranked team at 70 have knocked out Spain, who are ranked 10 currently after holding them to a 1-1 draw in regulation time and then edging them 4-3 via penalties.
Russia’s Igor Akinfeev, who was also adjudged the man-of-the-match, saved penalties from Koke and Iago Aspas to take the hosts into the quarters of the World Cup in Russia and knock the 2010 World Cup out.
Russia, who came into the World Cup as the lowest-ranked team, has punched above their weight one could say as they finished ahead of Egypt and Saudi Arabia and has scored nine goals so far in the tournament — the most in this year’s World Cup. Belgium have also scored nine goals so far in this World Cup.
But, Sunday, was not a day of goals. As Spain looked to play their possession style of football and wait for Russia to make a mistake, the hosts looked to hit on the counter and no were successful at that.
Spain dominated the ball during the game completing more than 1,000 passes but was too passive against a well-organized Russian defense. Spain led in the 12th minute when captain Sergio Ramos helped force Russia’s Sergei Ignashevich into an own goal when his back was turned to the play. The 38-year-old defender diverted a crossed ball into the net with his heel as he and Ramos got tangled up.
An error in Spain’s defense let Russia level in the 41st, after Gerard Pique’s raised arm blocked a header by Artyom Dzyuba at a corner. Pique’s complaints were wasted. Referees and video officials have consistently penalized handballs in the box at this World Cup.
Dzyuba’s penalty kick fooled goalkeeper David De Gea to dive the wrong way. The second half was drab as Spain looked to find and opening and failing at that and Russia chasing the ball largely. With the game going to extra-time, it was a matter of holding on and looking to take it to the spot-kicks as the Russian players struggled to run and keep up in the heat. And, they succeeded at that.
With the game going to penalties, it was a matter of luck and it looked like today was Russia’s day as they kept their cool and converted the spot kicks without any fuss.
Akinfeev saved spot-kicks from Jorge “Koke” Resurreccion and Iago Aspas, while all four Russian shooters scored. The 32-year-old used his trailing left foot to kick the ball high away from the goal on Spain’s last attempt by Aspas. The veteran goalkeeper leapt up, punched the air with both hands and leapt into a surfing, belly flop dive on to the rain-soaked turf as teammates raced to him from the halfway line.
It gave Russia its greatest win in international soccer for 10 years, since Akinfeev was in goal for an extra-time victory over the Netherlands in a European Championship quarterfinal. That run was ended days later by a Spain team beginning its era of dominance.