World Cup 2018: Russia reach quarter-finals after 4-3 penalty shootout win over Spain
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Watch Akinfeev's penalty saves as Russia beat Spain
Hosts Russia pulled off the biggest shock of the 2018 World Cup so far as they beat 2010 winners Spain in the first penalty shootout of the tournament to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in 48 years.
After extra-time ended with the score locked at 1-1, goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was Russia's penalty hero, denying Koke and then Iago Aspas to spark scenes of delirious celebration at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.
His opposite number, David de Gea, got a hand to the first spot-kick he faced - from Fedor Smolov - but that was the closest he came to making a save as the Russians converted their remaining penalties in clinical fashion.
Stanislav Cherchesov's side, at 70 the lowest ranked team in the competition and 60 places below Spain, now face Croatia or Denmark in the last eight in Sochi on Saturday.
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Their unlikely progress is a reward for their resolute defending for most of the 120 minutes of play and should reflect the part played by their thousands of fans who roared them on throughout their defensive masterclass.
Admittedly there were few signs of the Spanish struggles to come when Sergey Ignashevich inadvertently gave Fernando Hierro's side a a 12th-minute lead.
The veteran Russian defender, who turns 39 later this month, put through his own net as he tried to stop Sergio Ramos reaching Marco Asensio's free-kick at the far post.
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Ignashevich own goal puts Spain ahead
But Spain failed to turn their overwhelming dominance of possession into further chances and paid the price before half-time, when Artem Dzyuba's header from a corner hit Gerard Pique's outstretched arm.
Dzyuba stepped up himself to send De Gea the wrong way from the spot and the stadium went wild, not for the last time on a tumultuous evening.
The pattern of play did not change after the break, with Spain trying to pass their way through the ranks of Russia's packed defence, but lacking the imagination to fashion a serious shooting chance.
Only Andres Iniesta threatened to break the deadlock for Spain when he was belatedly summoned from the bench and the volume inside the Luzhniki increased as the Russian fans sensed their side could cling on.
When Spain did manage a sight of goal, at the start of the second period of extra-time, Akinfeev denied Rodrigo to ensure the game would go to penalties, where he would have the final say.
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World Cup 2018: Artem Dzyuba levels for Russia from the penalty spot'From no-hopers to within two wins of the final'
Russia were seen as no-hopers by most observers when this tournament began, when even getting out of their group for the first time since the end of the Soviet era had been seen as beyond them.
Many of their supporters outside the stadium were still writing them off before this game started, but instead they saw the hosts become the first Russian side to reach the quarter-finals of a World Cup since Mexico 1970.
That was the era of the legendary Lev Yashin, so it was fitting that another goalkeeper, Akinfeev, should play the biggest part here in this memorable triumph.
Russia's captain is 32 and was winning his 111th cap but this was his greatest performance of all, and on the biggest stage.
His side's determined defending meant he was tested by few of Spain's 24 shots but he showed brilliant reactions to keep out Jordi Alba's effort, got down smartly to save Iniesta's first-time shot and then blocked Rodrigo when he danced through.
In the shootout too, he produced saves when it mattered - first by plunging to his right to push away Koke's tame effort, then sealing victory with his trailing leg when Aspas fired his penalty straight down the middle.
'1,006 passes but only one goal - and a defeat' - the stats
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Spain completed 1,006 passes in this match, only 21 fewer than Russia have completed in their four World Cup matches (1027).
Russia have reached the quarter-final of the World Cup for the first time since the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Spain have lost three of their four World Cup penalty shootouts (1986 v Belgium, 2002 v South Korea and in this match).
Artem Dzyuba has scored with all three of his shots on target at the 2018 World Cup.
Russia's veteran defender Sergei Ignashevich became the oldest player to score an own goal at the World Cup, aged 38 years and 352 days.
Including the penalty shootout in this match, Spain goalkeeper David De Gea made just one save in his four matches at the 2018 World Cup.
Although Spain led for 29 minutes and 52 seconds in the first half (between the 12th and 41st minutes), they did not attempt their first shot at goal until the 45th minute.
Sergio Ramos made his 17th appearance for Spain at the World Cup in this game, a record for an outfield Spanish player and equalling the overall record held by goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Spain
1De Gea
4NachoSubstituted forCarvajalat 70'minutes
3PiquéBooked at 40mins
15Ramos
18Alba
8Koke
5Busquets
20AsensioSubstituted forRodrigoat 104'minutes
21SilvaSubstituted forIniestaat 67'minutes
22Isco
19Diego CostaSubstituted forIago Aspasat 80'minutes
Substitutes
2Carvajal
6Iniesta
7Saúl
9Rodrigo
10Thiago Alcántara
11Vázquez
12Odriozola
13Arrizabalaga
14Azpilicueta
16Monreal
17Iago Aspas
23Reina
Russia
1Akinfeev
3KutepovBooked at 54mins
4Ignashevich
13Kudryashov
2Figueira Fernandes
7KuzyaevSubstituted forErokhinat 97'minutes
11ZobninBooked at 71mins
18ZhirkovSubstituted forGranatat 45'minutes
19SamedovSubstituted forCheryshevat 61'minutes
17Golovin
22DzyubaSubstituted forSmolovat 65'minutes
Substitutes
5Semenov
6Cheryshev
8Gazinskiy
9Dzagoev
10Smolov
12Lunev
14Granat
15Al Miranchuk
16An Miranchuk
20Gabulov
21Erokhin
Referee:
Björn Kuipers
Attendance:
78,011
Match Stats
Home TeamSpainAway TeamRussia
Possession
Home79%
Away21%
Shots
Home24
Away7
Shots on Target
Home9
Away1
Corners
Home6
Away5
Fouls
Home5
Away19
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Spain 1(3), Russia 1(4).
Penalties overPosted at 127'
Penalty Shootout ends, Spain 1(3), Russia 1(4).
Posted at 126'
Penalty saved! Iago Aspas (Spain) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, left footed shot saved in the top centre of the goal.
Goal!Posted at 126'
Goal! Spain 1(3), Russia 1(4). Denis Cheryshev (Russia) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the centre of the goal.
Goal!Posted at 125'
Goal! Spain 1(3), Russia 1(3). Sergio Ramos (Spain) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Goal!Posted at 124'
Goal! Spain 1(2), Russia 1(3). Aleksandr Golovin (Russia) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.
Posted at 124'
Penalty saved! Koke (Spain) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.
Goal!Posted at 123'
Goal! Spain 1(2), Russia 1(2). Sergei Ignashevich (Russia) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Goal!Posted at 122'
Goal! Spain 1(2), Russia 1(1). Gerard Piqué (Spain) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Goal!Posted at 122'
Goal! Spain 1(1), Russia 1(1). Fedor Smolov (Russia) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Goal!Posted at 121'
Goal! Spain 1(1), Russia 1. Andrés Iniesta (Spain) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.
Penalties in progressPosted at
Penalty Shootout begins Spain 1, Russia 1.
Posted at 120'+2'
Second Half Extra Time ends, Spain 1, Russia 1.
Posted at 120'+1'
Attempt saved. Rodrigo Moreno (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Iago Aspas.
Posted at 117'
Corner, Russia. Conceded by Jordi Alba.
Posted at 114'
Attempt missed. Sergio Ramos (Spain) right footed shot from very close range is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Koke with a cross following a set piece situation.
Posted at 113'
Isco (Spain) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 113'
Foul by Sergei Ignashevich (Russia).
Posted at 112'
Attempt blocked. Gerard Piqué (Spain) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Posted at 112'
Isco (Spain) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 112'
Foul by Aleksandr Erokhin (Russia).
Posted at 110'
Foul by Iago Aspas (Spain).
Posted at 110'
Vladimir Granat (Russia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 109'
Attempt missed. Rodrigo Moreno (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Andrés Iniesta.
Posted at 109'
Attempt blocked. Daniel Carvajal (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Posted at 109'
Attempt saved. Rodrigo Moreno (Spain) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Gerard Piqué.
Posted at 107'
Attempt blocked. Andrés Iniesta (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jordi Alba.
Posted at
Second Half Extra Time begins Spain 1, Russia 1.
Posted at 105'+2'
First Half Extra Time ends, Spain 1, Russia 1.
Posted at 105'+1'
Attempt saved. Gerard Piqué (Spain) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Koke.
Posted at 105'
Isco (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 105'
Foul by Aleksandr Golovin (Russia).
Posted at 105'
Gerard Piqué (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 105'
Foul by Fedor Smolov (Russia).
SubstitutionPosted at 104'
Substitution, Spain. Rodrigo Moreno replaces Marco Asensio.
Posted at 102'
Attempt blocked. Iago Aspas (Spain) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Andrés Iniesta.
Posted at 100'
Attempt saved. Marco Asensio (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Iago Aspas.
SubstitutionPosted at 97'
Substitution, Russia. Aleksandr Erokhin replaces Daler Kuzyaev.
Posted at 97'
Attempt missed. Koke (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Sergio Ramos.
Posted at 93'
Attempt blocked. Jordi Alba (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Andrés Iniesta.
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Source: bbc.com
Source: bbc.com
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