Russia 3-1 Egypt: World Cup hosts on brink of knockout stage

Hosts Russia roared to a 3-1 win over Egypt in St Petersburg on Tuesday evening to put themselves on the brink of the World Cup last 16.

Ahmed Fathi's calamitous own goal (47) broke the deadlock, before Denis Cheryshev (59) and Artem Dzyuba (61) struck twice in three minutes to settle the Group A clash and move Russia onto a maximum six points after two games.

Mo Salah, who was included from the start, pulled a goal back from the penalty spot with 17 minutes left, but it will take an unlikely series of results to prevent the hosts from progressing while Egypt's tournament is probably over after two straight defeats.

After a pedestrian first half in which each side managed only one shot on target, Russia's breakthrough came in farcical circumstances within two minutes of the restart.

Mohamed El Shenawy needlessly opted to punch instead of catch Aleksandr Golovin's cross and Roman Zobnin's follow-up shot from the edge of the area was sailing wide until Fathi put out a leg and steered the ball across his own goalkeeper and into the goal.

The referee put his finger to his ear to ask VAR to check for a push by Dzyuba on Fathi, but there was no reprieve for the full-back and the goal stood.

The second followed 12 minutes later when Alexandr Samedov found the overlapping run of full-back Mario Fernandes, who reached to the byline and pulled the ball back to Cheryshev eight yards out to strike his third goal of the tournament.

Cheryshev was one of the heroes of Russia's opening 5-0 win against Saudi Arabia and another, Dzyuba, rattled in the third three minutes later. The striker chested down a high ball on the edge of the area, bullied his way past Ali Gabr with ease and tucked the ball into the corner.

Salah struck back for Egypt when he earned and scored a penalty in the 73rd minute. Referee Enrique Caceres initially awarded a free-kick when Zobnin tugged the Liverpool forward, but VAR confirmed the foul continued into the area and Salah lashed the spot kick high into the net.

Salah now has little hope of demonstrating his talents in the knockout stage, unlike Russia's players whose progress from Group A is virtually guaranteed with maximum points and a commanding goal difference.

Opta stats

• This is the first time Russia have won their opening two matches at a World Cup tournament since 1966 (as the Soviet Union).
• Russia's haul of eight goals in their opening two World Cup games is the joint-highest for a host nation, level with Italy in 1934.
• Russia's eight-goal total in their two games at the 2018 World Cup is equal to the tally that Spain scored overall in their 2010 tournament victory (in seven games).
• There have already been 10 penalties awarded in 17 games at this World Cup, the same number that there were in the entire group stages of the 2014 tournament (10 in 48 games).
• There have now been five own goals at the 2018 World Cup - the only tournament to see more in the competition was in 1998 (6).

Man of the match: Denis Cheryshev

Cheryshev was Russia's hero in the opening win against Saudi Arabia and the home fans roared his every touch, almost as loudly as Egypt's cheered Salah.

His second-half goal was the key moment in this match and moved him joint-top of the World Cup scoring charts, along with Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo. After a quiet first half, he was at the heart of Russia's best play in this match and is now establishing himself as the poster boy of this competition.

What's next?

Russia's final game in Group A is against Uruguay in Samara next Monday afternoon (3pm, UK time). Egypt face Saudi Arabia in Volgograd at the same time.

Fantasy Six-a-Side

Pick your dream team for Argentina v Croatia to win the guaranteed £1k jackpot.