Uruguay 1-0 Egypt: Gimenez to the rescue after Suarez misses

Uruguay 1-0 Egypt: Gimenez to the rescue after Suarez misses

El central colchonero salvó los muebles a su selección.
El central colchonero salvó los muebles de su selección. | sport

The Atletico defender scored the winner in the 89th minute

It was Jose Maria Gimenez, not Luis Suarez or Edinson Cavani, who saved Uruguay against Egypt as they kicked off their World Cup campaign with a 1-0 win. 

MATCH FACTS
Mundial

EGI

0 ________________ 1

URU

LINE UP

Egipto

El Shenawi; Fathi, Gabr, Hegazy, Abdel-Shafy; Elneny, Hamed (Morsy, 50'); Warda (Sobhy, 82'), El Said, Trezeguet; Mohsen (Kahraba, 63').

Uruguay

Muslera; Varela, Giménez, Godin, Cáceres; Nández (Sánchez, 58'), Vecino (Torreira, 88'), Bentancur, De Arrascaeta (Rodríguez, 59'); Suárez, Cavani.

Goles

0-1 M 89 Giménez .

Árbitro

Bjorn Kuipers (Paises Bajos). Hegazy.

Incidencias

Partido disputado en el Ekaterinburg Arena.

Atletico Madrid defender Gimenez rose highest in the 89th minute to expertly head home a free-kick and earn his country all three points. 

Suarez, though, endured a frustrating afternoon. The Barcelona frontman missed the best opening of the first half, hitting the side netting when he should have found the target. 

He was then denied by Egypt goalkeeper El Shenawi at the start of the second half as Uruguay failed to take their chances. 

Hector Cuper's Egypt, meanwhile, looked fairly solid but rarely came close to scoring. They were clearly missing Mohamad Salah, who was an unused substitute after injuring his shoulder in the Champions League final. 

Paris Saint-Germain's Cavani hit the post late on as it looked like we were set for the tournament's first goalless draw. 

But there was to be late drama when Gimenez, fresh from signing a new deal with his club this week, headed in Carlos Sanchez's late, late free kick. 

Uruguay join Russia, who beat Saudi Arabia 5-0 on Thursday, on three points, while Egypt will hope to have Salah back for their next game.