Match Review (RO16): Russia v. Spain

Russia v Spain
Score: 1-1 (4-3 pens)
Goals: Ignashevich 11' (og), Dyzuba 41' (p)
Possession: 26-74
Shots: 6-25
Man of the match: Igor Akinfeev (8S)

The hosts have knocked out World Cup favorites Spain in dramatic fashion on penalties. The match started off as everyone would've expected, with Spain controlling the ball. They passed it around until they found an opening and it didn't take long until they opened the scoring. Russia fullback Zhirkov took down Isco with a poor challenge and conceded a free kick. Real Madrid starlet Marco Asensio stepped up to take it and whipped in a perfect ball to the back post. There was a skirmish at the back post between center backs Sergio Ramos and Sergey Ignashevich. As they were going down to the ground, the ball deflected off the leg of Ignashevich and went perfectly into the back of the net. With Spain's possession style I think a lot of people would've thought that Spain would see this one out but the hosts had other ideas. They began to counter Spain's possession by playing two banks of four and pressing the ball at opportune times. This gave Russia a way into the match, and they limited Spain's attack and started to create chances of their own. Their first chance of the match fell to their starlet Aleksandr Golovin. Midfielder Roman Zobnin laid the ball off to Golovin who was standing right outside the box. Golovin picked it up and had a really good angle to curve the ball into the far post. Unfortunately, his strike went just past the far post and out for a goal kick. Though Russia would not have to wait too long to punish Russia when in the 41st minute they won a penalty thanks to Gerard Pique. A corner was whipped in, and big man Artem Dyzuba went up for the header. He won it, but his header deflected off the wailing hands of Barcelona man Gerard Pique. The referee didn't hesitate and awarded a penalty. Dyzuba stepped up and buried it in the bottom right-hand corner. This ended the half with the Russians feeling the more confident side going into the second half. The second half began, and Spain continued their ways. They passed the ball around and created almost next to nothing. Russia's shape was brilliantly stifling the Spanish passing maestros. The only clear goal scoring opportunity for the Spaniards fell to substitute Andres Iniesta. Spain's World Cup hero received the ball after a nicely chested down pass by Iago Aspas. He took on the shot on the half volley and struck the ball to absolute perfection as it looked destined for the bottom corner. Except captain Igor Akinfeev had other ideas getting low to his right and making a fantastic diving save. This sent the match into the first extra period of the World Cup thus far. Spain continued to do what they did and created very little but did create one clear goal scoring opportunity. It also fell to a substitute except for this time, not Iniesta but for backup striker Rodrigo. Rodrigo was played the ball down the right flank. He skinned his defender with a cheeky dummy and had a 1v1 on the wing. He blitzed by Fernandes with some nice stepovers and had a shot on net. His shot though was right at Akinfeev who again stood tall. This sent the match to penalties and history was definitely on the Russians side. For instance four years ago Brazil were in a penalty shootout to keep their hopes alive in the round of 16 and the hosts pulled through. Plus back in 2002, South Korea knocked off Spain on penalties for another victory for a host nation. And of course, history failed to disappoint. Russia took the shootout missing none of their penalties while Akinfeev saved penalties from Koke and Iago Aspas to send Russia through to face Croatia in the round of 16.