Mohamed Salah’s Egypt on verge of elimination from World Cup after 3-1 Russia loss

Egypt edged closer to becoming the first team knocked out of the 2018 FIFA World Cup following their 3-1 defeat to Russia.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Egypt edged closer to becoming the first team knocked out of the 2018 FIFA World Cup following their 3-1 defeat to Russia on Tuesday.

All eyes were on Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah who was making playing his first game since suffering a shoulder injury in Liverpool’s Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid in May.

Russia scored first thanks to an own-goal from Egypt’s Ahmed Fathi in the 47th minute. The Russians would add two more goals three minutes apart when Denis Cheryshev and Artem Dzyuba scored in the 59th and 62nd respectively.

Salah would eventually get on the scoresheet, converting his 73rd minute penalty confidently, but it was only a consolation as The Pharaohs are on the verge of bowing out of the tournament.

Russia won their first match, the opening game of the tournament, in style with an emphatic 5-0 win over Saudi Arabia on June 14 and their win over Egypt means they qualify for the round of 16. They play Uruguay on June 25 for a chance to seal top spot in Group A.

Egypt's forward Mohamed Salah reacts as Russia's forward Artem Dzyuba celebrates with teammates after scoring during the 2018 World Cup Group A football match between Russia and Egypt at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg, Russia on June 19, 2018. (Photo: AFP/Giuseppe Cacace)
Egypt's forward Mohamed Salah reacts as Russia's forward Artem Dzyuba celebrates with teammates after scoring during the 2018 World Cup Group A football match between Russia and Egypt at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg, Russia on June 19, 2018. (Photo: AFP/Giuseppe Cacace)

Earlier in the day, Japan defeated South Americans Colombia 2-1 in Group H.

The Japanese took an early lead from the penalty spot after Colombian midfielder Carlos Sanchez was shown a red card, the first of the tournament, for deliberately handling the ball in the box.

Shinji Kagawa stepped up to convert the spot-kick in the sixth minute.

Colombia responded in the 39th minute through a clever Juan Quintero free-kick struck underneath the Japanese wall and fumbled over the line by goalkeeper Elji Kawashima.

Japan’s one-man advantage proved too much for the South Americans, though, as striker Yuya Osaka’s 73rd minute goal sealed the win for the Asian side.

Japan's forward Yuya Osako (second from right) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the 2018 World Cup Group H football match between Colombia and Japan at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk, Russia on June 19, 2018. (Photo: AFP/Jack Geuz)
Japan's forward Yuya Osako (second from right) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the 2018 World Cup Group H football match between Colombia and Japan at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk, Russia on June 19, 2018. (Photo: AFP/Jack Geuz)

Elsewhere in Group H, Senegal beat Poland 2-1, scoring a goal in either half of the match.

Polish defender Thiago Cionek scored an own goal in the 37th minute before Mbaye Niang doubled Senegal’s lead in the 60th.

Poland scored a consolation goal in the 86th minute through midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak’s strike.

Senegal will play Japan next on June 24 before facing Colombia on June 28. Meanwhile, Poland faces Colombia on June 24 before their match against Japan on June 28.

Senegal's forward Mbaye Niang (second from right) celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the 2018 World Cup Group H football match between Poland and Senegal at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow, Russia on June 19, 2018. (Photo: AFP/Francisco Leong)
Senegal's forward Mbaye Niang (second from right) celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the 2018 World Cup Group H football match between Poland and Senegal at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow, Russia on June 19, 2018. (Photo: AFP/Francisco Leong)

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

The tournament has already provided some mouth-watering match-ups and unexpected results, including a memorable Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick against Spain, the first win in 20 years for Iran, and shocking draws for Brazil and Argentina against Switzerland and Iceland respectively.