July 01, 2018
Russia sensationally knocked Spain out of the World Cup after coming out on top of a nerve-shredding penalty shootout.
Russia knocks out Spain in penalty shootout
Missed penalties from Koke and Iago Aspas ensured Russia progressed to the last eight for the first time since the Soviet era, sparking joyous celebrations at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.
For all its possession and territory, the former world champion was far from convincing against a disciplined Russian side.
Arten Dzyuba's penalty before the break negated Sergey Ignashevich's 12th-minute own goal and from there on in the Russians refused to cave, forcing the match into a penalty shootout after it had ended 1-1 following 120 minutes of play.
Russia knocks out Spain in penalty shootout
The lowest-ranked team coming into this tournament and considered by some as the worst side in the country's history, the Russians surprised many by not only reaching the last 16 but doing so comfortably, steamrolling Saudi Arabia and Egypt and scoring eight goals in three games.
Striker Dzyuba had described Sunday's last-16 encounter as a "match of a lifetime" and spoke of how the players needed to "die on the pitch" to have a chance of overcoming the 2010 World Champions.
Buoyed by a partisan crowed, the home team gave it their all and there were tired Russian bodies aplenty after a stubborn defensive display took the tie to extra time and penalties.
In the end, it was another astonishing result in a competition which has seen Germany, Argentina and also Portugal depart already and increases the likelihood of a first-time winner lifting the trophy.
Russia will face either Croatia or Denmark in the last eight, a match which will be played on July 7.
Russia knocks out Spain in penalty shootout
Pass marks
At times, it seemed as if the Russians were going to be killed by a hundred passes as La Rojo displayed a mastery of the ball for which the two-time European champion is renowned. By the end of the match the Spaniards had completed over a 1000 passes.
But despite being blessed with a wealth of talent Spain has also failed to overwhelm opponents in this tournament, drawing with Portugal and Morocco in the group stage.
The Spaniards went ahead in the 12th minute when Ignashevich backheeled the ball into his own net while attempting to rugby tackle Sergio Ramos to the ground as Marco Aesnsio guided a freekick towards the far post.
Falling behind so early seemed to signal the beginning of the end for a Russian team playing five men in defense, but despite being starved of possession the Russians hit back before the break.
Gerard Pique, beaten in the air by Dzyuba, stuck his arm up as the Russian headed towards the goal and the referee needed little time in awarding a penalty for handball.
Dzyuba converted from the spot and it proved to be a costly mistake from the Barcelona defender as the rest of the match turned into defense versus attack with Russia's defenders, ultimately, coming out on top.
Russia knocks out Spain in penalty shootout
Russia knocks out Spain in penalty shootout
The ultimate test of nerve
Despite their supremacy, the Spaniards failed to truly trouble Igor Akinfeev, the man whose two penalty saves will turn him into a hero, for the majority of the match.
The Spaniards introduced Andres Iniesta in the 66th minute, a surprise omission from the starting line-up after a decade of orchestrating play in the Spanish midfield, as they went in search of a goal.
Yet even with Iniesta on the pitch, the Spaniards struggled to conjure a killer pass. The former Barcelona man went close with six minutes remaining, his drilled howitzer forcing Akinfeev into action.
There were a series of corners for Spain in the closing minutes, while the Spaniards ceded possession to give the Russians a whiff in injury time but this contest would not be decided in normal or extra time.
Russia knocks out Spain in penalty shootout
As penalties loomed, Spain upped its tempo and incisiveness -- substitute Rodrigo's driving run into the box forced Akinfeev to save with his legs.
In the 24th minute of extra time, Pique and Ramos both claimed they were fouled in the box as they vied for Koke's freekick but the VAR officials did not deem the incident worthy of a penalty.
As the rain thrashed down, the tension rose and the decibels inside the stadium increased. But there was no route through for the Spaniards and the outcome was decided by the ultimate test of nerve.
In failing that test, Spain becomes the latest big-name casualty of Russia 2018.
Related Stories
Latest News
Top news around the world
Academy Awards

‘Oppenheimer’ Reigns at Oscars With Seven Wins, Including Best Picture and Director

Get the latest news about the 2024 Oscars, including nominations, winners, predictions and red carpet fashion at 96th Academy Awards

Around the World

Celebrity News

> Latest News in Media

Watch It
Olivia Munn Reveals Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Double Mastectomy Procedure | E! News
March 13, 2024
kUaEV1Kd3S0
Travis Kelce Shares Details From His Trip to Singapore With Taylor Swift | E! News
March 13, 2024
3YXi-Dgf4eg
Kate Middleton VIRAL Photo: Agency Addresses Photoshop Claims | E! News
March 13, 2024
S4VkO0TpkCY
Da'Vine Joy Randolph Plays 'Smash or Pass' With Iconic Moments From Her Career
March 13, 2024
vkPdJEF2BX4
Jean Smart Wears a Hotel Bathrobe to Present an Award to Hannah Einbinder l Power of Comedy SxSW
March 12, 2024
Bw7uVEYQev4
Lenny Kravitz Walk of Fame Ceremony
March 12, 2024
MlWq8BcnwhE
Dak Prescott Extortion Plot & Steph Curry for President? | TMZ Sports Full Ep - 3/12/24
March 13, 2024
jHFsrjs7OFY
A Japanese space rocket blew up after takeoff Tuesday, turning the sky into a fireball of smoke.
March 13, 2024
YkfJ3Qg8B7c
#KimKardashian and #BiancaCensori hung out at #KanyeWest's listening party Tuesday night!
March 13, 2024
EfwLLq6bx9k
‘Pioneer Woman’ Ree Drummond denies using Ozempic to lose 60 pounds
March 13, 2024
Omfjk1AlZ3A
Chrissy Teigen reveals her ‘boob lift scars’ in daring dress at Jay-Z & Beyoncé’s Oscars 2024 party
March 13, 2024
VxZ2qXAlpmU
Zoë Kravitz pokes fun at dad Lenny Kravitz's style during Hollywood Walk of Fame speech
March 13, 2024
j3-lcFu_1sQ
TV Schedule
Late Night Show
Watch the latest shows of U.S. top comedians

Sports

Latest sport results, news, videos, interviews and comments
Latest Events
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Atletico Madrid - Barcelona
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester United - Liverpool
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Inter Milan - Napoli
17
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund - Eintracht Frankfurt
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Chelsea - Leicester City
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Roma - Sassuolo
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Verona - AC Milan
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Genoa
17
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
SC Freiburg - Bayer Leverkusen
17
Mar
USA: Major League Soccer
Atlanta United - Orlando City
17
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
West Ham United - Aston Villa
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Rayo Vallecano - Real Betis
17
Mar
ENGLAND: Championship
Leeds - Millwall
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Las Palmas - Almeria
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Villarreal - Valencia
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Sevilla - Celta Vigo
16
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Darmstadt - Bayern Munich
16
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester City - Newcastle United
16
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Fulham - Tottenham Hotspur
16
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Osasuna - Real Madrid
13
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Atletico Madrid - Inter Milan
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Barcelona - Napoli
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Arsenal - Porto
11
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Chelsea - Newcastle United
10
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Liverpool - Manchester City
10
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Real Madrid - Celta Vigo
10
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Aston Villa - Tottenham Hotspur
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Atalanta
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Fiorentina - Roma
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
AC Milan - Empoli
09
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Werder Bremen - Borussia Dortmund
09
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Arsenal - Brentford
09
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Bologna - Inter Milan
Find us on Instagram
at @feedimo to stay up to date with the latest.
Featured Video You Might Like
zWJ3MxW_HWA L1eLanNeZKg i1XRgbyUtOo -g9Qziqbif8 0vmRhiLHE2U JFCZUoa6MYE UfN5PCF5EUo 2PV55f3-UAg W3y9zuI_F64 -7qCxIccihU pQ9gcOoH9R8 g5MRDEXRk4k
Copyright © 2020 Feedimo. All Rights Reserved.