Mohamed Salah-less Egypt impressed without their star man against Uruguay on Friday but ultimately ran out of steam and came-up agonisingly short against Uruguay thanks to a towering header from Jose Gimenez in Ekaterinburg.
Egypt manage to dominate the possession in midfield but were stifled out whenever they entered the final third – also known as Diego Godin territory. The defender gobbled up everything that entered.
He also acted as Uruguay’s most prominent playmaker, despite all that had been written about their new, passing and creative midfield. Anything that was created, however, was fluffed at by Luis Suarez or dealt with expertly by Mohamed El Shenawy in the Egyptian goal.
That was until the final few minutes. First, Edinson Cavani thumped a 88th-minute free-kick against the post, before Gimenez found the net two minutes later to send the South American bench wild.
Both sides will be looking to win their other two games in the group and progress to the Round of 16, but Uruguay will be fancying their chances of topping Group A now.
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