Matchday 5 at the FIFA World Cup did not see a winner. Or a loser.
But it saw heroes. We start with the tournament’s favourites taking on one of the minnows.
Spain 0 – 0 Cabo Verde
Spain dominated possession in the first half, but for the majority, they did not place Cabo Verde under pressure. Cabo Verde played compact and refused to move out of shape as Spin attempted to stretch them out.
Cabo Verde had brief moments of creativity, including trying to catch the Spanish keeper, Unai Simón, off his line with a lob from the halfway line.
Spain had their best moment of the half near the 40th minute. A strong attack from the left saw the ball go off the crossbar. Mikel Oyarzabal was in a position to take on the rebound, but his shot was palmed over the crossbar by Vozinha, the Cabo Verde goalkeeper.
Vozinha had another quality reaction save just before the first-half stoppage time. He was a source of continual frustration for the limited Spanish attack.
The second half saw Spain amp up the intensity, forcing Cabo Verde to play purely defensively.
The introduction of Lamine Yamal brought cheers from the Spanish crowd, who had become increasingly irate at the inability of their team’s attack.
Cabo Verde’s best chance came in the 90th minute, and it was their first shot on target.
The African nation’s only corner connected with Diney Borges, who rose up above everyone. The header was strong, but it fell into the safe hands of the Spanish keeper.
And that’s how it ended, with the tiny archipelago nation holding off the tournament’s favourites to a nil-nil draw.
Belgium 1 – 1 Egypt
Egypt stood toe-to-toe with Belgium in the opening minutes as both sides probed each other’s defence. There were few true chances in the opening 20 minutes, but when it came, it roared.
It was Egypt’s Emam Ashour who put the African nation up first, a bullet of a shot from distance that beat Thibaut Courtois, Belgium’s keeper, on the right. The play started with a smart pass from the right by Mohamed Salah to Ashour, who was central and with space.
Belgium’s best chance of the half came just before the break from Jérémy Doku. Unfortunately, the shot was errant and sent wide of the net.
Egypt continued to grow in confidence as the second half started. That confidence was tested by a Kevin De Bruyne free kick in the 53rd minute, but the Belgian midfielder was unable to beat the post.
Belgium made a sub to get on Romelu Lukaku, and in his first minute, he had an impact. His pressure in between the centre-back pairings for Egypt forced an ill-timed challenge by Mohamed Hany.
Hany redirected the ball into his own net, giving Belgium their much-needed tying goal in the 66th minute.
Brandon Mechele had a great opportunity to give Belgium the go-ahead goal, but a brilliant save from Mostafa Ahmed Shobeir kept it level.
Neither side could break the deadlock; the 1-1 draw would stand.
Saudi Arabia 1 – 1 Uruguay
Perhaps watching the earlier success of the day in Cabo Verde, Saudi Arbai chose to sit back in the first part of this match. Uruguay had the bulk of possession, but they were stymied in trying to break down the Saudi’s low block.
Uruguay had a few chances in the opening 20 minutes, but the only one that tested the Saudi keeper, Mohammed Al Owais, was from outside the 18-yard box and was well handled.
Uruguay’s best chance of the half came in the 30th minute. A cross from the left connected with the diving header of Federico Viñas. There was power behind it, but Al Owais’s quick reactions kept the score level.
Saudi Arabia responded with a chance of their own in the 38th minute, a dangerous shot within the 18-yard box from Abdulelah Al Amri, which forced a top save from Fernando Muslera.
But Al Amri could not be denied twice. He scored in the 41st minute, pouncing on a rebound that bounced out of the hand of Musiera from a headed ball from a free kick. It was a deserving lead for the Saudis, given the direction of play over the previous 10 to 15 minutes.
The second half saw Uruguay come out with more urgency; however, Saudi Arabia kept to their defensive shape that worked so well in the first half.
Manuel Ugarte forced a brilliant fingertip save from Al Owais in the 60th minute. But it was in the 80th minute that Uruguay found their breakthrough.
Federico Viñas received a dangerous cross between the centre-backs, but his header was saved by Al Owais. However, he was only able to parry it away.
Maxi Araújo jumped on the rebound and smashed past Al Owais. There was nothing the keeper could do.
Sensing blood in the water, Uruguay sent waves of attacks into Saudi Arabia’s box. It was a constant bombardment, and all the Saudis could do was brave the storm. If not for heroics from Al Owais, this match would have ended differently.
But hold on, the Saudis did, earning their point, while Uruguay took one for themselves.
Iran 2 – 2 New Zealand
Iran began on the front foot, but it was New Zealand that hit the back of the net first.
In what was their first shot, coming in the 7th minute, New Zealand’s Elijah Just received the short ball from Chris Wood. Just’s shot off the volley was in congestion with Iran’s defenders, but he had enough space to get power on it and blast it into the back of the net.
Medhi Taremi thought he had equalized in the 23rd minute, but his shot rang off the post. It was the best opportunity for the Asian nation.
But they did find their equalizer in the 32nd minute. Shahriyar Moghanloo toe-poked the ball through New Zealand’s defence, finding Ramin Rezaeian near the 6-yard box.
The right back stretched with his foot, pushing it beyond the keeper. It was a fitting goal based on how Iran had been controlling the match at that point.
Ali Nemati of Iran thought he had the go-ahead goal just before the half as his header beat New Zealand keeper, Max Crocombe, off a free kick. But he was well offside.
Both teams exchanged several other chances in an exciting first half, but the 1-1 draw stood as the sides went into the tunnel for the break.
It was New Zealand that broke the deadlock. In the 55th minute, Just got his brace with an excellently played 1-2 with Wood. The two had connected on the first goal as well.
Iran was not done. Mohammad Mohebi tied it back up in the 64th minute with a climbing header. Rezaeian’s cross was perfectly timed and weighed for the winger to connect with it.
The action did not stop as both nations had decent chances to go ahead, but neither side could find a third goal.
Up next
Tomorrow brings France taking on Senegal and Iraq playing Norway.
World Cup defending champions Argentina will play Algeria, as Austria will take on Jordan.
Discover more from A51
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
