Hosts Russia advance to World Cup QF after shootout win over Spain

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Russia advances to the quarterfinals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup after a penalty shootout win over former champions Spain on Sunday.

Spain scored first thanks to an own-goal scored by Russian defender Sergei Ignashevich on 12 minutes.

Russia equalized through Artem Dzyuba in the 41st minute from the penalty spot.

Neither team was able to find a winner after 90 minutes as the match went to extra-time.

Despite having most of the possession and more shots on goal, Spain couldn’t find the winning goal as the game had to be settled through a penalty shootout which Russia won 4-3.

Hosts Russia finished second in Group A on six points with wins over Saudi Arabia and Egypt before losing to Uruguay.

Spain, meanwhile, only needed five points to finish top of Group B after draws against Portugal and Morocco, and a win against Iran.

In Sunday’s other Round of 16 game, Croatia beat Denmark 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

After a blistering start where both teams scored inside the first five minutes, Denmark in the first minute and Croatia in the fourth, the match was forced into extra-time.

Croatia had a chance to win the match in the second-half of extra-time, but Luka Modric missed his penalty. The incident proved ironic as the game was settled via a penalty shootout with Croatia coming out on top.

Russia will play Croatia in the quarterfinals on July 7 at 9:00 p.m. Erbil time.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup takes place between June 14 and July 15 with 32 teams from five different confederations competing.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Peru, Costa Rica, Tunisia, Panama, Poland, Iran, Australia, Nigeria, Iceland, South Korea, Germany, Senegal, Poland, Argentina, Portugal, Spain, and Denmark have been eliminated from the tournament.

The remaining Round of 16 ties are Brazil vs. Mexico, Belgium vs. Japan, Sweden vs. Switzerland, and England vs. Colombia.

The Round of 16 ties will be played between June 30 and July 3.

France and Uruguay will play the first quarterfinal tie on June 6 at 5:00 p.m. Erbil time after beating Argentina and Portugal respectively.

The final, meanwhile, will be played on July 15 at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow at 6:00 p.m. Erbil time.