MOSCÚ — Otra vez una jugada con pelota detenida y el cabezazo de un defensor salvaron a Uruguay, que se apuntó una angustiosa victoria 1-0 sobre Egipto en el debut de ambos en la Copa Mundial.
El testazo del central José María Giménez en el último minuto dejó a los uruguayos empatados con Rusia en la cima del Grupo A, donde los anfitriones del torneo golearon el jueves 5-0 a Arabia Saudita.
Egipto jugó sin su astro Mohamed Salah, que se repone de una lesión en un hombro sufrida el mes pasado durante la final de la Liga de Campeones entre Liverpool y Real Madrid, y no inquietó el arco uruguayo.
Pero el equipo celeste no supo penetrar el vallado defensivo que opusieron los egipcios y un Luis Suárez con la pólvora mojada desperdició las tres situaciones de gol más claras que tuvo el equipo uruguayo, que no hizo nada para justificar el cartel de favorito para ganar el grupo con que llegó a Rusia.
En la primera, el delantero de Barcelona tiró desviado desde muy cerca y en las otras dos ocasiones el arquero Mohamed Elshenawy salió airoso en sendos mano a mano.
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Ekaterinburg (Russian Federation), 15/06/2018.- Supporters of Uruguay prior the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Egypt and Uruguay in Ekaterinburg, Russia, 15 June 2018. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: Editorial Use Only, not used in association with any commercial entity - Images must not be used in any form of alert service or push service of any kind including via mobile alert services, downloads to mobile devices or MMS messaging - Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage - No alteration is made to, and no text or image is superimposed over, any published image which: (a) intentionally obscures or removes a sponsor identification image; or (b) adds or overlays the commercial identification of any third party which is not officially associated with the FIFA World Cup) (Egipto, Mundial de Fútbol, Rusia) EFE/EPA/FRANCIS R. MALASIG EDITORIAL USE ONLY ** Usable by HOY and SD Only ** (FRANCIS R. MALASIG / EFE)
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Ekaterinburg (Russian Federation), 15/06/2018.- Supporters of Uruguay prior the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Egypt and Uruguay in Ekaterinburg, Russia, 15 June 2018. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: Editorial Use Only, not used in association with any commercial entity - Images must not be used in any form of alert service or push service of any kind including via mobile alert services, downloads to mobile devices or MMS messaging - Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage - No alteration is made to, and no text or image is superimposed over, any published image which: (a) intentionally obscures or removes a sponsor identification image; or (b) adds or overlays the commercial identification of any third party which is not officially associated with the FIFA World Cup) (Egipto, Mundial de Fútbol, Rusia) EFE/EPA/FRANCIS R. MALASIG EDITORIAL USE ONLY ** Usable by HOY and SD Only ** (FRANCIS R. MALASIG / EFE)
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The Uruguay team lines up for a photograph prior to the start of the group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Yekaterinburg Arena in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) (Natacha Pisarenko / AP)
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Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, left, jokes with team mate Ramadan Sobhy during warm up ahead the group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Yekaterinburg Arena in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) (Mark Baker / AP)
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Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, 3rd left, warms up with team mates ahead the group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Yekaterinburg Arena in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) (Mark Baker / AP)
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Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani controls the ball as he warms up prior to the start of the group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Yekaterinburg Arena in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) (Natacha Pisarenko / AP)
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Egyptian fans cheer their team ahead of the group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Yekaterinburg Arena in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) (Mark Baker / AP)
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Egypt’s Mohamed Salah joggles the ball ahead the group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Yekaterinburg Arena in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) (Mark Baker / AP)
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Uruguay’s team pose for a group shot during the group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Yekaterinburg Arena in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (Vadim Ghirda / AP)
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Egypt’s team gather on the pitch before the group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Yekaterinburg Arena in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (Vadim Ghirda / AP)
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Egypt’s team pose before the group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Yekaterinburg Arena in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (Vadim Ghirda / AP)
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Teams line up ahead the group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Yekaterinburg Arena in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) (Mark Baker / AP)
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Egypt head coach Hector Cuper, center, listens the national anthem ahead the group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Yekaterinburg Arena in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) (Mark Baker / AP)
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YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 15: Egypt team lines up prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 15, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (Clive Rose / Getty Images)
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YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 15: Mohamed Salah of Egypt gestures to fans prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 15, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (Dan Mullan / Getty Images)
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YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 15: Uruguay team lines up prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 15, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (Dan Mullan / Getty Images)
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YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 15: Shikabala of Egypt and Mohamed Salah of Egypt look on from the bench during the natinoal anthems prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 15, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (Dan Mullan / Getty Images)
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YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 15: An Egypt enjoys the pre match atmosphere prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 15, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images) ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (Matthias Hangst / Getty Images)
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YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 15: Mohamed Salah of Egypt looks on from the bench during the natonal anthems prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 15, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images) ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (Matthias Hangst / Getty Images)
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YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 15: Mohamed Salah of Egypt looks on from the bench prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 15, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images) ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (Matthias Hangst / Getty Images)
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YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 15: Edinson Cavani of Uruguay kicks off to start the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 15, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (Dan Mullan / Getty Images)
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YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 15: Mohamed Salah of Egypt looks on during the natonal anthems prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 15, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images) ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (Matthias Hangst / Getty Images)
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YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 15: Egypt team lines up prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 15, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (Clive Rose / Getty Images)
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YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 15: An Egypt fan enjoys the pre match atmosphere prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 15, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (Ryan Pierse / Getty Images)
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YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 15: The Egypt team huddle ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 15, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (Dan Mullan / Getty Images)
Elshenawy también tapó dos remates envenenados de Edinson Cavani, justificando la decisión del técnico argentino Héctor Cúper de alinearlo en lugar de Essam El-Hadary, portero de 45 años que aspira a ser el jugador de mayor edad que disputa un partido de una Copa Mundial.
A Uruguay le costó mucho generar peligro ante un contrincante que amontonó gente atrás. Se esperaba que un renovado mediocampo uruguayo le diese más creatividad al equipo.
Ese pronóstico, sin embargo, no se cumplió y la mejor fórmula ofensiva que tuvo el equipo charrúa volvió a ser las combinaciones entre Cavani y Suárez.
Cavani fue quien cedió los dos balones de oro que Suárez no supo aprovechar. Y casi anota a los 84, con un tiro algo desde el borde del área que motivó una gran intervención de Elshenawy.
A tres minutos del final, el ariete de París Saint Germain estrelló un tiro libre en un poste.
Y cuando parecía que el partido terminaba igualado, apareció la cabeza salvadora de Giménez ante un tiro de esquina.
(1) Uruguay: Muslera; Varela, Godín, Giménez, Cáceres; Nandez (Carlos Sánchez, m.59), Vecino (Torreira, m.88), Bentancur, De Arrascaeta (“Cebolla” Rodríguez, m.59); Luis Suárez y Cavani. Entrenador: Óscar Washington Tabárez
Gol: 0-1, M.89: Giménez.
Árbitro: Björn Kuipers (Holanda). Mostró cartulina amarilla a Hegazy (m.96).
Incidencias: partido correspondiente a la primera jornada del grupo A del Mundial de Rusia disputado en el Ekaterimburgo Arena de Ekaterimburgo (Rusia) ante 42,500 espectadores.
