Cavani double sends Ronaldo and Portugal crashing out of World Cup

Edinson Cavani scored twice to send Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal out of the World Cup and set up a quarter-final tie between Uruguay and France.

Uruguay and Portugal were meeting for the first time in the World Cup, and Uruguay brought with them a side that had not conceded yet in Russia, nor had it in three games beforehand. Up against them was Cristiano Ronaldo, gunning to be top scorer of the whole tournament.

Portugal had the first real chance of the game, when Ronaldo drilled a low shot from the edge of the box, but Fernando Muslera was right behind it. The Real Madrid man was aiming to score his first goal in the knockout stages of in any World Cup.

However, it was Uruguay who took the lead, and they did so with one of the goals of the tournament. From the right wing, Edinson Cavani arrowed a pass into Luis Suarez on the inside left. The Barcelona striker brought the ball down, teased his marker, and curled in a tempting cross to the back post.

By holding the ball up, Suarez had allowed his striking partner Cavani the time to make his way to into the box. His header nestled in the back of the net, the aesthetics only slightly compromised by Cavani’s use of his face rather than forehead to meet the ball. It was also notable for the fact it was Uruguay’s first goal of the tournament which had not come from a set piece.

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Suarez then went close himself, curling a low free kick through the wall that Rui Patricio did well to palm away. For all their attacking intent, neither side had the other on the ropes at any point in the rest of the half.

In the second half, Portugal shifted Ronaldo to a more central position but failed to find an immediate way through as they chased an equaliser. They did, though, find an equaliser when Pepe rose to meet a corner from the left to thunder past Muslera – the first goal that Uruguay had conceded in seven matches of football.

Then came another outstanding Cavani goal. The Paris Saint-Germain forward wrapped his foot around a Rodrigo Betancur pass – his last touch of the game – to give Patricio no chance.

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Portugal had a chance to equalise when Muslera spilled a cross, but Manchester City playmaker Bernardo Silva could not keep the ball down as he attempted to squeeze a shot through the crowd of players in front of him. Seconds later, Uruguay’s hero Cavani had to limp off to be replaced, and Oscar Tabarez will be stricken with worry over his fitness.

For the last stages of the game, Portugal attempted to pile on the pressure but Uruguay’s back line, led by the exemplary Diego Godin, kept Ronaldo and co at bay with relative ease. Portugal came to the tournament as dark horses, but it is Uruguay who are a surprisingly tough opponent, and will fancy their chances against France.