World Cup 2018: Cavani brace carries Uruguay into the quarters

It fits that on a night presumably meant to be the battle between two of the World’s most lethal strikers, Edinson Cavani stood up and made himself be counted, single-handedly carrying Uruguay into the quarterfinals with a 2-1 victory over Portugal in Sochi on Saturday.

Shadowed under the wings of his more personalistic teammates at both club and country, Cavani has always been there at the scene but never really took-off. This night at the Fisht Stadium was however meant to be his. It could be told from the very moment he had a proper touch on the ball – a glancing header for Uruguay’s first goal.

He had initiated the move and it was fitting that he ended it, heading home a fine cross by Luis Suarez in just the seventh minute of the match. His next goal came nearly an hour later, but by then Cavani had established himself as Uruguay’s best on the night, even better than Suarez.

The barcelona star had an assist and could have scored another but Portugese goalkeeper Rui Patricio pulled out a brilliant save in the 21st minute after Suarez had been fouled in the edge of the box.

Cavani though seemed unstoppable and was everywhere clearing long balls from the defence and scoring from them as well. His second goal just an example of the night he had created for himself. Stopping a Portugal attack on that right, the PSG striker sent out a long ball to Suarez on the left and then blazed his way into the box, scoring with a curled effort to put Uruguay 2-0 ahead.

Suarez had laid the ball for a charging Rodrigo Bentancur in the middle, who found Cavani, running in space in the 61st minute and what followed next was something Uruguay will cherish forever – a wonderfully curled shot straight into the right bottom corner well out of Patricio’s hands and well beyond Portugal’s reach.

‘The Navigators’ had clawed back into the contest after playing from behind for most of the match when Pepe hammered a header into goal in the 55th minute after being left unmarked from a set-piece.

Also read: World Cup 2018: France kick Argentina out with a 4-3 win

But Cavani ensured they do not cross the line with a fine tackled goal. He though had to leave the field in utter disappointment after hurting his ankle and was helped by Ronaldo onto the touchline. It remained the most cheered moment for Portugal amd also Ronaldo in the match.

The goal-machine found it tough to get going and was frustrated often asking for more of the ball, but he had opportunities to score but hit wide of target thrice in the match.

Tomorrow’s match: Spain take on Russia, A Messi big fan is tomorw eacgpected at the Luzhniki stadium (on Sunnday) from 7:30 pm IST

Croatia then face Denmark from the Nizhny Novgorod stadium on Sunday from 11:30 pm IST.