World Cup 2018: Uruguay Joins France For Quarter Finalist As Ronaldo, Messi Knockout

Uruguay’s victory earned them a quarter-final against France on Friday and sent world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo home after a subdued performance.

Cavani put Uruguay ahead in the seventh minute when he evaded the Portugal defence to meet Luis Suarez’s pin-point cross with a bullet header at the far post.

Pepe headed Portugal level in the 55th minute, the first goal Uruguay have conceded in the tournament.

But Uruguay regained the lead seven minutes later when Rodrigo Bentancur found Cavani and he curled a brilliant first-time shot past Rui Patricio from the edge of the penalty area.URUGUAY 2-1 PORTUGAL – CAVANI (7, 61), PEPE (54)

Uruguay XI: Muslera, Caceres, Gimenez, Godin, Laxalt, Nandez, Torreira, Vecino, Bentancur, Suarez, Cavani.

Portugal XI: Rui Patricio, Ricardo Pereira, Pepe, Fonte, Guerreiro, Bernardo Silva, William Carvalho, Adrien Silva, Joao Mario, Goncalo Guedes, Ronaldo.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Andy: Uruguay reminding us that there is a reason they are the maiden winners of the World Cup, their win today attests to their determination and team work.

Simon: Everybody was right. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are going to meet. Not in the quarter-finals but at the airport.

Oliver: Ronaldo and Messi out of the World Cup on the same day. It feels a bit like sacrilege but this tournament is so compelling already that it almost feels as if it won’t miss them.

Piers: Uruguay look strong, well-organised and determined. They also have two of the most deadly strikers on Planet Earth. They could win the whole thing.

URUGUAY 2-1 PORTUGAL

FT: And we’re done. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been dumped out of the World Cup on the same day.

Uruguay were worthy winners with two terrific goals from Edinson Cavani, who will need to be checked before next week’s quarter-final with France.

95: Close! There’s mayhem inside the Uruguay penalty area. Everyone’s trying to poke it home but Muslera sends it wide for a corner.

Rui Patricio trundles up. The goalkeeper wins the initial header but Gimenez punts it downfield. I think that might just be enough.

94: Cristiano Ronaldo goes in the book for complaining to the referee. He would miss the quarter-final if something incredible happens in the next few minutes.

93: Luis Suarez can’t help but smile. he runs the length of the field and serves it on a plate for Rodriguez, who slices wide wth only Patricio to beat.

92: What a bit of defending from Laxalt. He’s somehow reached Silva’s deep cross at the back post to prevent the Silva (Andre) from converting.

91: Cristiano Ronaldo goes from distance and nearly troubles the corner flag…

90: Four minutes added time.

89: Uruguay will be playing France next week in the quarter-finals unless Portugal can find something in the dying minutes.

87: Cristiano Ronaldo glares at Manuel Fernandes for lashing one into space from 30-yards out. Ambitious efforts like that are reserved exclusively for Ronnie in this Portugal side.

85: Manuel Fernandes,  an Everton for two bizarre seasons, replaces Joao Mario for the closing stages. He’s immediately into the action with a 25-yard effort that Muslera collects.

82: Where’s this equaliser then? Portugal aren’t offering too much in attack.

I think I might be the only person on earth that doesn’t want this to reach extra-time. Why? Because Bear Grylls and Anthony Joshua are doing a programme straight after…

80: Nandez heads off to a huge round of applause. he’s run himself into the ground tonight. Carlos Sanchez replaces him.

77: Godin is now having to take goal kicks for Muslera, who might just be suffering with cramp.

It’s all Portugal in the closing stages as Uruguay hunker down to protect their lead. This will feel like a long 13 minutes for theSouth American side.

74: It’s the end of the evening for brace hero Edinson Cavani. He’s replaced by Cristhian Stuani. Quite a worrying injury ahead of next week’s potential clash with France.

AC Milan striker Andre Silva replaces Guedes, who’s done absolutely nothing tonight.

71: Edinson Cavani is hobbling and Cristiano Ronaldo wraps his arm over the shoulder and escorts him off the field. The Uruguay striker makes the signal to the bench to be taken off.

68: WHAT. A. CHANCE.

Uruguay goalkeeper Muslera makes an astonishing error when dropping a routine cross from the right. The ball sits up nicely for Bernardo Silva, who lashes over. Should have been 2-2.

65: Portugal have got to go for it. I spotted Cristiano Ronaldo trying to gee his side up with a few claps and arm gestures. It’s do or die time.

63: Portugal make a change as Ricardo Quaresma replaces Adrien Silva. Cristian Rodriguez replaces Bentancur also.

URUGUAY 2-1 PORTUGAL – CAVANI

61: Do me a favour. Portugal were level for roughly six minutes…

Edinson Cavani has scored his second of the evening to restore Uruguay’s advantage, and it’s an absolute peach.

Juventus midfielder Bentancur drives forward before picking out Cavani, who curls a tremendous effort from range that sneaks past the outstretched Patricio.

60: Pepe’s goal for Portugal ended Uruguay’s run of 597 minutes without conceding a single goal, with the previous being conceded back in November 2017 vs Austria.

58: Now we’ve got a game on our hands! Portugal aren’t resting on their laurels, they want the lead as soon as possible.

Everything is quicker, sharper and more accurate.

URUGUAY 1-1 PORTUGAL – PEPE

55: Those naturals will be annoyed that they turned off…

Portugal have clawed their way back from the brink thanks to towering centre-back Pepe.

Godin and Gimenez are distracted by Cristiano Ronaldo, leaving Pepe free to head Raphael Guerreiro’s cross beyond Muslera.

Uruguay’s defence is finally breached!

54: I suspect a few neutrals will be switching this match off. Uruguay aren’t particularly interested in scoring a second and look happy to sit back and absorb Portugal pressure.

53: Leicester signing Ricardo doesn’t half plough forward. He joins in with every attack and nearly found Ronaldo in the middle with a cross from the right, but Godin cleared the danger.

50: No immediate signs of Portugal making the breakthrough. Uruguay look more resilient and compact with Cavani dropping a bit deeper into midfield.

48: Portugal have made a tactical change with Bernardo Silva now moving into the hole behind the striker. He needs to get involved more.

URUGUAY 1-0 PORTUGAL

45: And we’re back underway. Uruguay have now gone three-and-a-half matches without conceding in this competition. Can Portugal unlock the safe?

WHERE’S RONNIE?

HT: Cristiano Ronaldo had 24 touches for Portugal in the first half against Uruguay, but none of those came in the opposition box.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Steve: Luis Suarez is such a drama queen. Holds his head wherever he gets knocked pathetic. Which is why the referee left him on the ground… cried wolf too many times. Saying that come on Uruguay, sweepstakes team!

Messed: Defensively this Uruguayan team is best in the tournament. Having two deadly strikers upfront. Talk about being a dark horse

Chris: As good a player as Luis Suarez is, he’s always going to have that side to him. He was shoved in the back and he goes down for 2 minutes holding his head. Embarrassing, that. Not quite Rivaldo but it was up there.

You are seriously confused, Steve.

URUGUAY 1-0 PORTUGAL

HT: After two minutes of added time, the referee blows his whistle. Uruguay take a one-goal lead in with them at the break courtesy of Edinson Cavani.

Plenty needed for Portugal to get themselves back into things. They’ve been second-best all over the pitch.

45: Luis Suarez goes down under pressure from Guerreiro and acts like he’s been taken out by a sniper. He’s clutching his head but the full-back never touched it. Ridiculous.

43: Uruguay are fighting like beavers here, said in true Chris Kamara fashion. Every single player is tracking back and doing their defensive duties to stifle Portugal.

40: Toys are firmly out of the pram as the referee refuses to give Portugal a corner. Caceres clearly poked it out. Never seen so much hysteria.

38: Ronaldo and Lionel Messi going out on the same day? Say it ain’t so! Still plenty of time for Portugal to claw their way back. No immediate signs of that happening, however.

35: Smashes it straight into the wall. That was a bit of an anti-climax. Sorry guys.

34: Oooooh boy! Free-kick in Cristiano Ronaldo territory. Standby because he’s just pulled up his short.

The Real Madrid star steps up…

33: Since 1966, only Grzegorz Lato and Andrzej Szarmach (5 for Poland) and Michael Ballack and Miroslav Klose (5 for Germany) have combined for more World Cup goals than Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez (4 for Uruguay).

Thanks, Opta.

30: We’ve reached the half-hour mark and Uruguay will be very happy. It’s like watching Atletico Madrid in LaLiga. Make the breakthrough and strangle the opposition for an hour…

29: Eh? The Portugal fans have decided to unleash the power of the Thunderclap! Not sure Iceland would be too pleased with that, lads.

28: Godin with a crafty push on Bernardo Silva as the Manchester City star gives him the slip. Portugal have a set-piece near the right-hand touchline.

Silva delivers but it alludes everyone and Suarez of all people is back to run it clear.

25: There’s a hush around the stadium, and that’s because Luis Suarez is standing over a free-kick about 20-yards from goal.

The Barcelona forward steps up… SAVE! Great effort from Suarez to go underneath the wall but Rui Patricio parries it away.

22: With all this talk of Godin floating around, Gimenez is often overlooked. The centre-back reads the danger and prevents Silva’s cross from reaching Ronaldo.

Portugal looking the livelier of the two sides now.

20: I’ve just noticed that some bored individual has created a twitter account for Cristiano Ronaldo’s little chin beard. Oh, apparently it’s a goatee…

17: Luis Suarez has now provided the assist for 12 of Edinson Cavani’s 44 goals for Uruguay (27%). Enjoy the useless pub ammunition.

16: Luis Suarez is nearly in. He collects a forward pass from Cavani and nips beyond Adrien Silva in midfield. Pepe ushered him wide and the deflected shot loops up kindly for Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio.

14: Lucas Torreira is down injured now after blocking a Cristiano Ronaldo shot. Cue every Arsenal fan crying in their living rooms. Don’t worry, he’s up again.

11: Portugal nearly respond immediately through Jose Fonte. Remember him? Anyway, Bernardo Silva crosses to the far post and Fonte heads wide.

URUGUAY 1-0 PORTUGAL – CAVANI

8: Brilliant. That is a sensation goal from Uruguay.

No prizes for guessing who combined to make the breakthrough. Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez, who were born three weeks apart in the same town.

It’s superb one-two build-up play from the pair with Suarez producing an inch-perfect cross for Cavani, who uses his face/shoulder/chin to convert at the back post.

Who cares what body part he used!

6: I should probably know the answer to this, but why are Portugal in white tonight? I’m certain that red doesn’t clash with Uruguay’s blue.

Cristiano Ronaldo unleashes his first snapshot of the evening but Muslera gathers low.

URUGUAY 0-0 PORTUGAL

4: Fonte does well to usher Nandez away from goal but concedes a corner for his troubles. There’s a bit of shoving but not enough to send Pepe to the floor.

2: Just as we suspected. There’s a few niggling challenges and naughty moves in the early stages with two or three fouls being called. This one is going to get dirty.

Bernardo Silva has the first chance of the evening when stretching to head a deep cross over the bar.

1: And we’re underway in the second last 16 clash. Predictions? I’ll plump for a 1-1 draw and Portugal to nick it in extra time. Let me find the odds on that banker…