FIFA World Cup: Uruguay (And Russia) Advance To Knockout Stage; Wednesday Wins Also For Portugal And Spain; Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco Eliminated

Three games were played in Russia in Wednesday as group-stage play in the FIFA World Cup continued.

GROUP A:

At Rostov-on-Don:

Luis Suarez scored the only goal of the match in the 23rd minute as Uruguay defeated Saudi Arabia 1-0 to advance (along with Russia) to the knockout stage.

That's ol' Luis, celebrating after scoring the goal that sent La Celeste into the Round of 16.

The defeat knocked the Saudis and Egypt from the tournament.

EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock goal by Khaled Elfiqi

Group A Standings:

1. x-Russia (GP: 2; GD: +7; PTS: 6)
2. x-Uruguay (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS: 6)
3. z-Egypt (GP: 2; GD: -3; PTS: 0)
4. z-Saudi Arabia (GP: 2; GD: -6; PTS: 0)

x-Clinched berth in knockout stage

z-Eliminated from tournament



GROUP B:

At Moscow:

At Luzhinki Stadium, Cristiano Ronaldo (that's him celebrating here) scored the only goal of the match in the fourth minute as Portugal defeated Morocco 1-0, as the African country became the first to be eliminated from the tournament.

Reuters photo by Carl Recine

At Kazan:
Diego Costa scored the only goal of the match in the 54th minute as Spain defeated Iran 1-0.


Photo from ESPN.com website

Group B Standings:

1.    Spain (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
2.    Portugal (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
3.    Iran (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
4. z-Morocco (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 0)

z-Eliminated from tournament