Igor Akinfeev saves 2 penalties as Russia edge Spain 5-4 on penalties
- Spain have crashed out of the World Cup following defeat to Russia
- The hosts made it through winning 5-4 on penalties after regulation time
- Russia made it into the last eight for the first time since 1970 in their history
Russia have shocked Spain to qualify into the quarter finals, winning 5-4 on penalties, after a 1-1 scoreline in regulation time.
Spain scored first in the match as Sergei Ignashevich put the ball into his own net in the first real threat of the match.
The Russian did not give up as they pushed forward for an equalizer. Artem Dzyuba won a penalty following a hand ball from Gerard Pique.
READ ALSO: Juventus make surprise bid for Ronaldo after crashing out of the World Cup
Dzyuba converted the spot kick to level the scores a few minutes before the break. The match had been a cagey affair as the Russians defended in numbers in the second half.
Igor Akinfeev who later became the hero of the Russian side saved a number of chances created by Spain as his opposite number David De Gea had nothing much to do.
PAY ATTENTION: Click on link to get World Cup fixtures on Legit.ng
The match progressed into extra time but still no goal from either side as the game went into penalties after a grueling 120 minutes as it ended 1-1.
It was the Russians who had the last laugh as Koke and Iago Aspas missed their spot kicks while the Russians scored all four of of their penalties.
PAY ATTENTION: Click on link to get World Cup groups on Legit.ng
The host will now face the winner of the Croatia/Denmark match which will be played later in the day.
The star-studded Spanish side now join Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal and Lionel Messi Argentina as countries eliminated from the World Cup.
Nigeria VS Argentina. World Cup Showdown | Legit.ng TV
Read below the live updates of the round of 16 match between Spain and Russia.
Russia defeat Spain 5-4 on penalties to progress into the quarter finals of the World Cup.
Aspas loses as Russia qualify into the semis.
Cheryshev puts Russia one step into the semis. It's 5-4 Russia
Ramos calmly slots the ball straight down the middle. It's 4-4.
Golovin gives Russia the advantage as he makes it 4-3
Akinfeev finally saves one from Koke. It's still 3-3.
Ignashevich deleivers a lovely one to level the scores. It's 3-3.
Pique steps up and scores sending Akinfeev the wrong way. It's 3-2 to Spain.
Smolov buries the ball beyond De Gea as he got a hand to it. It's now 2-2.
The first kick is taken by Iniesta and he sends the keeper the wrong way. It's now 2-1 to Spain.
120+1' The referee sends the match into penalties.
120' Aspas to Rodrigo and he shoots but Akinfeev again with the save.
119' There is way through the Russian back line as Spain have been unable to create an opening.
117' Russia wins the corner. Golovin takes eludes a Russian head in the box.
116' Four minutes left to play as the both sides are giving to each other.
114' There is a shout for a penalty but the VAR thinks otherwise as Russia play the goal kick.
112' Isco crosses Russia defends and Pique shoots but blocked again. Russia holding on for their lives at the moment.
110' Ball possession: Spain: 75%, Russia: 25%.
108' Rodrigo breaks away from the right as he finds his way into the box. He unleashes a shot as Akinfiev saves and Aspas with the rebound but goes wide.
106' Russia begins the second of of extra time.
105+1' Referee ends the first half of extra time.
105+1' Koke floats it in for Pque but his header is easily handled by Akinfeev.
105' Isco has won a free kick for Spain in a promising position.
103' SUBSTITUTION! Asensio comes off for Rodrigo.
102' A shot by Iago Aspas is blocked as Sergei Ignashevich relieves the pressure with a clearance.
100' Asensio finds space and shoots and into the hands of Akinfeev.
97' SUBSTITUTION! Kuziaev comes off for Aleksandr Yerokhin.
95' Isco swings a cross into the box. Sergei Ignashevich relieves the pressure with a clearance.
92' A shot by Daniel Carvajal is blocked. Spain take a throw-in at the left side of the pitch in the opponent's half of the field
91' Extra begins as Spain kick off. Spain are in control of the ball.
90+4' And we going into extra-time as the referee ends the 90 minutes played
90+3' Mix up in the Spanish defence as Smolov shoots but well wide.
90' The assistant referee indicates four minutes will be added to the 90.
89' Isco tries to pick out a team-mate in the area but his cross is blocked by an opponent.
87' Russia start a counter attack and the referee signals a free kick as Aleksandr Golovin from Russia trips Jordi Alba.
85' Spain with a lovely move down the left as Alba crosses to Aspas in the box who chests it down to Iniesta and fires in a shot but saved by Akinfeev.
83' Koke delivers a cross but well defended again by Russia as we approach the last six minutes of the game.
82' Isco takes and the ball but booted out to safety. Spain continue to press forward for a possible winner.
82' Isco slides in a through ball to Aspas as he wins a corner
80' SUBSTITUTION! Iago Aspas come in for Diego Costa.
78' Jordi Alba directs the ball behind the defence, but it's intercepted by an opponent player.
75' Ball possession: Spain: 72%, Russia: 28%.
73' The Russians are defending all through and it looks like they want the game to go into extra time.
71' Zobnin is shown a yellow card for simulation.
70' SUBSTITUTION! Carvajal come in for Nacho
68' A quarter of an hour still left to play and it remain 1-1.
67' SUBSTITUTION! Andreas Iniesta comes in for David Silva
65' SUBSTITUTION! Artem Dzyuba is replaced by Smolov
63' Russia counters with Fernandez but he is brought down by Sergio Ramos for a free kick. Dzyuba heads the ball trying to find Chreyshev but it rolls across the line for a goal kick.
61' SUBSTITUTION! Samedov comes off for Cheryshev.
60' Nacho drills in a cross to Silva as he flicks it trying to find Costa but the big number nine was not there on time.
58' CHANCE! lovely through ball to Isco in the box as he shoots but against the Russian defence for a corner. Isco takes it but cleared away.
56' Russian win a free kick in a vantage position as the fans roar the team on. It's taken but this time it is well defended by Spain.
54' Asensio with the cross as Isco tries to flick it but well read by the Russian defence.
52' Spain regroup as they begin with my purpose on the attack.
50' Golovin fouls Nacho and a free kick is given to Spain in a promising position. Spain takes and Costa heads way over
48' Russia take a throw-in at the left side of the pitch in the opponent's half of the field
46' Russia restart the match as they begin an early attack.
46' SUBSTITUTION! Vladmir Granat comes in for Youri Zhirkov.
45+2 The referee indicates it's half time as the hosts will be happy with the scoreline going into the break.
45' Nacho with a lovely through pass to Costa as Akinfeev throws his body with a save.
42' Both sides scored their goals on their first attempt on goal. Interesting match we have in our hands.
41' Artem Dzyuba takes the penalty and scores as he sends De Gea the wrong way to put the score level. It's 1-1. It's his third of the tournament.
40' GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAL!
39' PENALTY! Dzyuba's thumping header hits Pique on his hand for a spot kick.
38' CHANCE! A cross into the Spanish box but blocked by Koke for a corner.
36' CHANCE! Golovin in a good position to score but missed by yards away as De Gea was completely beaten.
36' This by far is the most one-sided game in the round of 16 as Spain continue their dominance in possession.
34' Spain still lead by 1-0 with their first shot on target.
32' Spain have the possession back as the famous Mexican wave is being observed in the stadium.
30' Dzyuba makes a run down the right but he is chased down by Isco. Russia are now playing better in the last five minutes.
29' Ball possession: Spain: 75%, Russia: 25%.
28' A short one taken but Costa quickly hurries to make the interception from Samedov as Spain gain control again.
27' Russia win their second corner of the match and a chance to see if they can come into the match.
23' Samedov takes a free kick but its headed away as they make another attack finding Dzyuba but well cleared by Koke.
21' The game still going the way of the Spaniards as the Russians have not been able to have the ball and push for an equalizer.
19' Russia has never won a World Cup game that they conceded a goal and they will have to up their game if they want to achieve that.
17' Lovely piece of skill from Isco but he was forced back as he was surrounded with whites shirts.
15' Spain back in control of the match and the Russians still waiting to break away from a mistake.
13' Now the hosts begin to attack and a shot from Zobnin goes way off target.
11' Asensio takes a free kick from the right and Sergio Ramos somehow squizzes himself on the ball but it counts as an own goal to Sergei Ignashevich. He becomes the oldest scorer of a World Cup own goal at the age of 38.
11' GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAL!
9' Russia are trying not to allow Spain settle in the match while the Spanish team are still not getting it quite right yet.
7' Spain still in control of possession as the entire Russian team fall behind the ball hoping for an anticipated counter attack.
5' Samedov takes the first corner kick but the ball falls too deep to locate a Russian in the Spanish box.
3' Spain are having a fair share of possession in the early exchanges as the match has not produced a threat of goal yet.
1' The match gets underway as Spain are playing from right to left as they kick off the match.
- Spain and Russia will come neck to neck in the round of 16 of the World Cup
- The 2010 champions topped Group B while the hosts were runners up in Group A
- The match is slated for the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, on Sunday, July, 1
Russia face a litmus test when they come up against 2010 champions Spain in the round of 16 at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
The host had a flying start in the tournament after recording comprehensive victories over Saudi Arabia and Egypt but humbled by Uruguay in their last group match.
Spain on the other hand, had a slalom campaign in the group stages, a 3-3 against Portugal led them to a narrow 1-0 win over Iran.
READ ALSO: Cavani's brace sends Uruguay through as Ronaldo bow out of Russia
Morocco gave them a run for their money in the last Group B match as they played out a 2-2 draw.
But Spain topped their group ahead of Portugal while Russia had to come behind Uruguay who won three out of three matches.
PAY ATTENTION: Click on link to get World Cup fixtures on Legit.ng
The 2010 winners will aiming to finally hit their form with a comfortable win while the hosts will hoping to use home advantage against the visitors.
Aleksandr Golovin and Denis Cheryshev have been the shining stars in the Russian side following their breathing performance.
PAY ATTENTION: Click on link to get World Cup fixtures on Legit.ng
It is difficult to pick a stand-out man from Fernando Hiero's sqaud as the collectiveness of the star-studded side has been their strength so far in the tournament.
Line ups
Spain: David De Gea; Nacho, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba; Sergio Busquets, Koke, Silva, Isco; Diego Costa, Marco Asensio.
Russia: Igor Akinfeev; Mario Fernandes, Ilya Kutepov, Sergey Ignashevich, Yuri Zhirkov; Roman Zobnin, Daler Kuzyaev; Aleksandr Samedov, Aleksandr Golovin, Kudriashov; Artem Dzyuba
Game Spain vs Russia
Date Sunday, July 1
Time 3pm (Nigerian time)
Venue Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
Nigeria VS Argentina. World Cup Showdown | Legit.ng TV
Source: Legit.ng
