Russia's national football team advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup after edging Spain on 3-4 penalties' win following 1-1 draw in the main time as well as overtime periods of the match at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Sunday night.
Twelve minutes into the game Spain’s captain Sergio Ramos tried sending the ball into the Russian net and it bounced off the calf of Russia’s Sergei Ignashevich reaching the initial target to unpack the score in the match at 1-0.
Less than five minutes remaining in the first half Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers flashed a yellow card to Spain’s Gerard Pique for a foul in the Russian box ordering a penalty kick, which was executed by Russian striker Artyom Dzyuba to tie the score at 1-1.
Both 15-minute halves of the overtime period also ended with the draw although Spain was aggressive on the Russian side in the first half of the added time, while Russia answered with a solid defense and counterattacks in the 2nd half.
The following penalty shootout proved that that hosts Russia was stronger scoring all five shots, while goalkeeper Igor Akenfeyev saved two of the penalty strikes from Spain.
Also on Sunday, the teams of Croatia and Denmark met in Nizhny Novgorod. The main time ended in a 1-1 draw. The score was opened on the first minute of the game by Denmark’s defender Mathias Jorgensen. Croatia’s forward Mario Mandzukic equalized on the fourth minute. Extra time also ended in a draw. Finally, Croatia defeated Denmark 3-2 on penalties to make it to the quarterfinals.
On July 7, Croatia will meet Russia in the quarterfinals at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi.
