Uruguay vs Russia 2018 World Cup Group A goes to Uruguay on Suarez Cavani goals

Suarez now has seven World Cup goals in his career.

For Uruguay, Sebastian Coates, Diego Laxalt, Lucas Torreira and Nahitan Nandez replace Guillermo Varela, Jose Gimenez, Carlos Sanchez and Cristian Rodriguez. For Russia, there are three changes to the side that beat Egypt: Igor Smolnikov replaces Mario Fernandes, Fedor Kudriashov replaces Yuri Zhirkov, and Aleksey Miranchuk is in for Aleksandr Golovin, marking Miranchuks World Cup debut.

Edinson Cavani of Uruguay finally breaks through with a goal. (Wallace Woon / REX / Shutterstock)

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Notable: Russias first-game explosion gave it the most goals and best goal differential in the tournament and its already in the round of 16 a nice accomplishment for a team that former player Andrei Kanchelskis called the worst Russian team I have ever seen before play began. A win or a draw will secure first place  in Group A.

Cavani FINALLY gets his goal!pic.twitter.com/PZqOGuMXG7

Previous results: Russia beat Saudi Arabia, 5-0, and Egypt, 3-1.

Uruguays Luis Suarez scores into the lower left corner on a close-in free kick in the 10th minute and takes off on a glorious celebratory slide.

Luis Surez now has 7WorldCupgoals, passing Diego Forlan for 2nd-most inURUhistory.

Suarez opened the scoring early and Uruguay never looked back as La Celeste secured the top spot in Group A by beating Russia.

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Not long after, Mario Fernandes replaces Cheryshev, Russias best player. Read into that what you will, given that Russia is also playing a man down with Igor Smolnikov sent off with a red card.

Russia played more aggressively in the second half on the scorching day, despite being down to 10 men after Igor Smolnikov was sent off with a red card for tripping. Uruguay finally capitalized in injury time, with Edinson Cavani sending a rebound into the net for the third goal of the game.

Luis Suarez puts Uruguay up 1-0 on Russia early in the game!pic.twitter.com/0Sa3aYzS5Y

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Uruguay has already equaled its goal total from the first two games and Russia has given up more than it did in its first two matches.

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Cindy Boren arrived at The Post in 2000 as an assignment editor in charge of baseball and NFL/Redskins coverage. She switched to full-time writing, focusing on national sports stories and issues, when she founded The Early Lead blog in 2010.Follow

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Obviously, the first few matches youre tense and dont want to make any mistakes or lose. One mistake can be very expensive, Suarez said (via m). Today we came to the pitch with a different attitude and perspective and thats made the pressure better. Thats what we saw on the pitch.

Uruguayans LOVED how that first half went. ??

Uruguay (2-0-0, 6 points) vs. Russia (2-0-0, 6 points)

Notable: Uruguay finished fourth eight years ago in South Africa and would be disappointed by any less success.

With the win, Uruguay will play the Group B runner-up on June 30 in Sochi. Russia plays the Group B winner on July 1 in Moscows Luzhniki Stadium, a huge home-field advantage.

Dont blame Lionel Messi for Argentinas struggles. Blame the coach.

A long distance shot deflects into the back of the net to put Uruguay up 2-0.pic.twitter.com/RvwB8oKOcy

Both teams already had secured spots in the round of 16 and Uruguays win means it will play the Group B second-place finisher, still to be determined, on June 30 in Sochi. Russia will play the Group B winner July 1 in Moscows Luzhniki Stadium, a real home-field advantage. Spain, Portugal or Iran are the likely opponents to come out of Group B.

With Uruguay pressing, a shot by Diego Laxalt ricochets off the leg of Denis Cheryshev and goes into the net past Igor Akinfeev, giving Uruguay a 2-0 lead in the 23rd minute. Originally credited to Laxalt, the score was changed to an own goal by Cheryshev.

Uruguay turned on the energy late after relaxing early in the second half. Russia was pressing and playing more focused soccer, even with only 10 men, but could not muster a real scoring threat or miss.

Edinson Cavani finally breaks through in the 90th minute, giving Uruguay a 3-0 lead with his first goal of this World Cup.

FIFA world ranking: 14. ELO world ranking: 10.

Russia, with Denis Cheryshev coming out after an own goal, and Igor Smolnikov being sent off on a red card, looks as if it might be done. Uruguay opens the second half with Luis Suarez securing a free kick 25 yards from the goal, but Edinson Cavanis kick cant get past the wall even with Russia playing with only 10 men.

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Uruguay clinched Group A Monday with its third World Cup shutout, beating Russia, 3-0, in Samara.

Previous results: Uruguay beat both Egypt and Saudi Arabia by 1-0 scores.

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Uruguay wasted little time in scoring with Luis Suarez sending a free kick from just outside the box into the corner of the net in the 10th minute.

Its a hot day in Samara, with the temperature hitting 91 at kickoff. To no ones surprise, the crowd is loud and Uruguay has controlled the ball in the very early going.

In the 23rd minute, Diego Laxalts long-distance shot glanced off Russias Denis Cheryshev and hit the net behind Igor Akinfeev. It was ruled an own goal and Uruguay led, 2-0, at the half.

FIFA world ranking: 70. ELO world ranking: 33.

Not sure why youd look away from UruguaysLuis Suarez, for his skill and for the controversy he seems to generate, even though he has only one goal. Also keep an eye onRodrigo Bentancur, the 20-year-old Juventus midfielder. For Russia, midfielderAleksandr Golovinhas played a key role in its surge, but he is out, replaced byAleksey Miranchuk.

Only Oscar Miguez has more with 8.pic.twitter.com/uct754cB2c

Uruguay vs. Russia 2018 World Cup: Group A goes to Uruguay on Suarez, Cavani goals