Salah missed as Uruguay and Gimenez secure victory over Egypt Updated for November 2025

15/06/2018 | Categories: Football betting | Published by: Andy Nelson

Updated: 17th November 2025

WC 2018: Group A clash- June 15, 2018 Egypt vs Uruguay Match Report.

EGYPT 0, URUGUAY 1.

Watch José Giménez's Goal in the Egypt vs Uruguay 0-1 clash on 15/06/2018

A Egypt without Mo Salah held on doggedly and almost pulled off a draw against the much powerful Uruguayans, but were denied that thanks to a goal from a powerful header by 23-year old Atletico Madrid defender Jose Gimenez in the 90th minute of play.

The South Americans looked the better side with their star Paris St Germain striker, Edinson Cavani, denied a goal from a free-kick that hit the post and another from a miraculous save pulled off by Egyptian goal-keeper El-Shenawy .

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez looked off-key for most of match and missed opportunities to score, banging one right into the side net and letting a dribble land right into El-Shenawy's lap.

Egyptian defenders Ahmed Fathy, Ali Gabr, Ahmed Hegazi and Mohamed Abdel-Shafy were resolute at the back keeping the Suarez-Cavani duo at bay for the initial half of the match.

There were glimpses of brilliant play from the Pharaohs in the first half with Trezeguet, El Said and Marwan Mohsen combining brilliantly upfront but there wasn't any great threat to the Uruguayan goal as such.

Uruguayan coach Óscar Tabárez chose to start off with a inexperienced mid-field in the form of 22-year old Nahitan Nandez and Matias Vecino,26, but that turned out to be the South Americans' weak link that the Egyptians were able to exploit for much of the first half.

The substitution of Nandez with the much experienced Carlos Andres Sanchez, 33, in the 58th minute gave the much needed impetus the Uruguayans needed to turn the match around. Till then Tabarez's boys had just 5 attempts on the goal.

With Sanchez's inclusion in the mid-field, they made 10 more attempts, weakening the Egyptian defense's resolve considerably till the much sought-after goal came in the dying minutes.

For the African Cup runners-up, a draw would have meant a valuable point in the bank, but that was not to be. The Egyptians now take on a buoyant Russia on the 19th. The hosts will play with their tails up having not just earned 3 points with Saudi Arabia but also banging in 5 goals in the process. The Egyptians will desperately need the services of their talisman Mohammed Salah to turn things around now.

Uruguay can consider themselves half way through to the next round. They need one more win from their remaining 2 games in the Group A cluster and with one of them being against a deflated Saudi Arabia, the Uruguayans will surely fancy their chances.

The Egyptians have no other option than to win both their games against Russia and Saudi Arabia and that too by some margins.