Suarez duo almost tarnish England dream
Group Match
Group D, Match 3
Luis Suarez returned from injury to score twice as Uruguay beat England 2-1 to breathe new life into their World Cup campaign, reports Goal.com.
Uruguay were shocked by a 3-1 loss to Costa Rica in their opening Group D fixture last Saturday, but Suarez - who was absent for that game - proved the difference in Sao Paulo on this occasion.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The fitness of the Liverpool star dominated the pre-match headlines but, as expected, he was included from the start just four weeks after undergoing minor knee surgery.
And he marked his first appearance of this World Cup with a double, nodding in a superb Edinson Cavani cross six minutes before half-time to give Uruguay the lead.
Wayne Rooney missed two glorious chances for England in the first half, first heading into the bar from one yard while scores were level before shooting straight at Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera early in the second period.
But he made amends as he tapped in Glen Johnson's smart ball across the face of goal with 15 minutes left to equalise and set up a grandstand finish.
Suarez had the final say, though, pouncing on Muslera's long ball - which flicked the head of England captain Steven Gerrard - and firing past Joe Hart with just five minutes left to all but end England's chances of reaching the last 16.
Uruguay will now head into Tuesday's clash against Italy in buoyant mood, while England, beaten in both Group D matches, need a minor miracle to qualify.
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez threatened to ring the changes after the Costa Rica match and he was true to his word, making five alterations, as captain Diego Lugano (knee) and defender Maxi Pereira (suspended) were not the only casualties.
In stark contrast, England were unchanged, and Roy Hodgson's faith was nearly rewarded when Rooney - the target of much criticism following their 2-1 defeat to Italy - curled a 20-yard free-kick just wide with Muslera rooted to the spot.
Phil Jagielka's mishit clearance allowed Cristian Rodriguez in at the other end, but his fiercely hit left-foot effort sailed inches over the crossbar in the 15th minute.
Diego Godin was then perhaps lucky to stay on the pitch, as the defender, given a yellow card for a handball that led to Rooney's early free-kick, caught Daniel Sturridge by the throat with his forearm, but avoided further punishment.
England should have taken the lead in the 31st minute but Rooney, who rose above Martin Caceres, inexplicably headed into the bar from one yard from a Gerrard free-kick, and they were soon made to pay for their profligacy.
Nicolas Lodeiro instigated the opener, beating Gerrard in midfield, and he fed Cavani, who, from the left, produced an inch-perfect cross that looped over Jagielka and onto Suarez's head, with the striker nodding across Hart and in from eight yards.
Sturridge nearly produced a quick response for England but they had to weather a storm after the break as Uruguay ramped up the pressure.
Suarez caught Hart napping as he shot from a corner, with the goalkeeper having to scramble back to keep it out, and he also fired wide after England were caught out at the back.
Cavani then wasted a fine chance to double Uruguay's lead, shooting wide when one-on-one with Hart before Rooney could only shoot at Muslera when played in at the other end.
Rooney finally opened his World Cup account in the 75th minute as Johnson, who cut in from the right and beat Alvaro Gonzalez, saw the Manchester United man steal in front of Caceres and shoot past Muslera.
England's celebrations were cut short, though, as Muslera's hopeful punt forward saw Suarez pounce on Gerrard's inadvertent flick-on, the striker keeping his cool to slam the winner past Hart.
Man of the Match: L Suarez (URU)
Match Commentary - as it happened
England's World Cup dream is just about over as they now need to defeat Costa Rica and hope Italy win their next two fixtures in order to progress. The sheer talent and brilliant of Luis Suarez has been the difference tonight as the Liverpool man scored a brilliant header in the first half and smashed a strike past Joe Hart in the second to earn the win. All the pre-tournament quite confidence and harmony throughout the England squad is now gone, as they now face another tournament disappointment. I'm Martin Macdonald, thanks for joining us, see you next time!
FULL TIME IN SAO PAULO! URUGUAY SECURE A MASSIVE WIN OVER ENGLAND!
90` + 3` Johnson finds Barkley down the left-hand side and the Everton youngster cuts inside but just takes one touch too many, which allows the Uruguay defenders to steal possession!
90` + 1` FIVE MINUTES of added time signaled by the ref! This should be a boost to the Three Lions! Can they salvage anything from this?!
89` Time is running out for England here! They've only got a few minutes left to keep their World Cup dream in their own hands. Otherwise, they'll have to rely on other results!
88`Substitution: Luis Suárez out, Sebastián Coates in.
87` Substitution: Jordan Henderson out, Rickie Lambert in.
87` It's all getting very heated out there as Gimenez takes out Rooney with a pretty terrible challenge near the corner flag. England get the free kick, which Gerrard takes, but the set-piece is cleared and Uruguay counterattack!
85` Goal Luis Suárez
GOOOOOAAAAALLLL GOOOOAAAAALLL GOOOAAAAALLL FOR URUGUAY!!! AND WHO ELSE BUT LUIS SUAREZ?! Gerrard misjudges a header in the middle of the park and it runs straight through to his Liverpool team-mate who dashes forward before smashing a strike past Hart! Two-one! INCREDIBLE!
83` Fucile makes a terribly misjudgement near the corner flag and Henderson takes advantage before dinking a ball into the box looking for Sturridge, but yet AGAIN Muslera commandingly comes off his line to catch the cross!
81` Now the tables have turned as it's now England who are camped inside their own half as Uruguay win a succession of corner! The Three Lions just need to keep their heads and get these set-pieces out of the way! Rooney, Barkley, Sturridge, and Lallana are a definite threat on the counter!
79` Substitution: Alvaro Gonzalez out, J. Fucile in.
79` Uruguay have just reverted into slightly deeper roles here as they look to be worried about England's new found confidence. There is definitely another goal in this, but who can take advantage of this open tempo?!
77` SAVE BY MUSLERA!! Baines crosses to the near post for Sturridge, who takes a couple of assured touch inside the box before stabbing a shot to the bottom corner, which the goalkeeper palms to the right! England in the ascendancy here!
75` Assist Glen Johnson
75` Goal Wayne Rooney
GOOOOOAAAAALLL GOOOAAAALLLL GOOOOAAAAALL FOR ENGLAND!!! Sturridge turns sharply on the right wing and then slides a pass down the channel for Johnson, who just manages to get in front of the defender to fins ROONEY at the back post, who tucks home! One-one!
73` Unlucky from Sturridge. He shows decent strength to hold off the challenge of Arevalo before shifting the ball on to his left foot on the edge of the box. He has a clear sight at goal but just can't get enough purchase on the shot and sticks it straight down the throat of Muslera.
71` Substitution: Danny Welbeck out, Adam Lallana in.
71` Hodgson delves into his substitutes bench once again Adam Lallana is introduced in place of Welbeck. The Southampton man likes to come inside, as do Rooney and Barkley, so it'll be interesting to see how that trio function behind the striker.
69` Barkley wonderfully spins his marker before knocking a pass sideways to Rooney, who chips a pass down the ring wing for Johnson, but any potential attack is halted when the right-back takes a heavy touch into the box, allowing Uruguay to thump away from danger.
68` Yellow Card Steven Gerrard
67` Substitution: N. Lodeiro out, Stuani in.
67` Definite signs of frustrations creeping into the England ranks here. Gerrard is the latest player to go into the book and it's for a scything challenge on Rodriguez. Absolutely deserved, and could have possibly been a red on another day.
65` Sturridge bursts down the inside left channel and glides past Caceres before attempting to fins Rooney's run towards the front post, but again the former Chelsea striker's pass is too near the goalkeeper, who pounces.
64` Substitution: Raheem Sterling out, Ross Barkley in.
64` Roy Hodgson makes his first change of the match and it will see Ross Barkley introduced in place of Sterling, who has showed glimpses of his quality but has drifted in and out of the match since half time.
63` Sturridge comes deep in an attempt to see more of the ball and collects possession 25 yards out. He looks for the onrushing run of Gerrard but the cross lacked quality and once again Muslera comes off his line to claim out of the air.
61` The Uruguay players are signaling to the bench for the medical staff to come on here as Pereira looks to have took an extremely nasty blow to the head. He looks to have been out of it for a minute after the challenge, but somehow he is being allowed to continue! Keep an eye on that one!
59` Henderson slides a pass down the left for Baines, who in turn reverts a pass back to his team-mate, who takes a stride past Gonzalez before hitting a wicked cross into the box. Muslera is on his toes though, and comes off his line to claim out of the air.
57` That injury to Muslera seems to have took the tempo out of the match after a blistering opening 10 minutes. Both sides have had chances to add a goal to their tally, but goalkeepers on top in the second half.
56` Thankfully Muslera seems to have recovered after some treatment from the physios, and we can continue.
55` Some worrying scenes for Uruguay at the moment as Muslera is currently down injured after a nasty clash with Welbeck. The Englishman showed no malice in the challenge, but it was still a sore one for the goalkeeper.
53` WHAT A SAVE FROM MUSLERAAA!! Baines digs out a cross into the box and Rooney collects before shifting on to his left foot and rifling a strike at goal! He is thwarted by the Galatasaray keeper, who remains big to make the block! What does the Man Utd man have to do to get a World Cup goal?!
51` England have not come out of the traps after the break here! Henderson hacks and kicks away at Rodriguez but the Atletico man still somehow comes away with the ball. The move eventually sees Cavani through on goal but he shanks his strike wide of the post! The South Americans should have scored two in six minutes!
49` What a saaaaaaave from Hart!! Suarez dashes towards the front post and somehow diverts a strike towards the corner, but the Man City keeper's reactions are superb as he beats away the attempt from on the line! Almost 2-0 Uruguay!
47` Suarez and Cavani aim to swap roles from the first goal as the former breaks away down the left wing before clipping a cross to the back post for his team-mate. This time though, Jagielka heads away. Should have done that the first time, Phil!
Half time in Sao Paulo. It has been a very even half in most respects but one goal separated Uruguay and England at the break, and no prizes for guessing who scored it. Luis Suarez has returned from his injury to haunt the nation where he plays his club football as he heads in at the back post after a superb cross from Cavani. All to play for in the second half though!
45` Only one minute of added time signaled by the ref. A goal before the break is the order of the day for England, but they'll have to be quick!
43` Good response from England after going a goal down. They are popping the ball around nicely and earned a couple of corner, but unfortunately for the, Uruguay remain solid to clear each and every one.
41` STURRIDGE! Just like the match against Italy, England come flying out of the blocks after going behind, but on this occasion the don't quite equalise! The Liverpool man gets in behind the defence and lashes a strike towards the near corner, but Muslera tips behind!
39` Assist Edinson Cavani
39` Goal Luis Suárez
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL FOR URUGUAY!! THE SOUTH AMERICANS TAKE THE LEAD!! Cavani gallops down the left wing and cuts inside before dinking a fantastic cross into the box for LUIS SUAREZ, who guides a header past Hart into the corner! One-nil!
37` Jagielka plays the ball into midfield and Henderson picks up before sliding a pass inside the Rooney, who then sprays wide right for the oncoming Johnson. There's no route down there though, and so he is forced to check back to Sterling.
35` That's wild from Sturridge. The Liverpool man collects the ball 30 yards out and smashes a strike towards goal, but it must clear the bar by a good three or four metres. That's what England can't afford to do; get frustrated and start rushing things.
33` The atmosphere inside the Arena Corinthians has just decreased slightly as both sides are guilty of surrendering possession far too easily. Neither nation has took the initiative to boss the midfield, and it's making for a pretty cagey encounter.
31` ENGLAND HIT THE WOODWORK!!! Gerrard floats a free kick to the back post and Rooney rises high but bullets his header off the bar from close range! He probably should score!! That's the best chance of the match so far!
29` Diego Godin is the luckiest man in Sao Paulo at the moment! The Uruguay captain, who is on a yellow card, cynically blocks the run of Sturridge down the right-hand side, but somehow escaped receiving another booking from the referee! England should feel aggrieved about that decision, for sure!
27` Cavaniiiii! Just over!! A cleverly worked corner kick from the South Americans sees the PSG forward check his run at the edge of the area and dash in to receive a reversed pass. He meets the set-piece and whips a shot towards the top bag that goes inches over!
26` A loose ball finds it's way to Lodeiro on the edge of the box and he threads a lovely pass through the England defence, which Cavani looks to run on to. Cahill manages to get across at the last minute and slide out for a corner kick before a shot can be struck. Really good defending from the Chelsea man.
24` It's the final third where England are lacking quality at the moment. Welbeck is the culprit this time as he initially does well to take the ball out of the air with an assured touch, but his eventual pass down the channel to Sterling is lazy and easily intercepted by Caceres.
22` Sterling just needs to be a little more intelligent on the ball. We have seen glimpses of his ability as he has took it by multiple players on a couple of occasions, but a failure to release the ball in time to a team-mate has resulted in him being dispossessed.
20` Uruguay are just enjoying a small period of sustained possession in the final third as as they look to unlock this England defence. Hodgson's men are set up pretty sturdily whenever the opposition have the ball though, so it'll be a tough nut to crack.
18` Disappointing from the England captain. His corner kick fails to beat the first man and the South American side easily clear to instigate a counterattack.
17` Rooney, Sterling, and Sturridge all link up on the edge of the box and the ball eventually comes to the latter, who looks to curl a strike towards the bottom corner, but Uruguay remain solid and the attempt bounces behind for a corner, which Gerrard will take.
15` RODRIGUEEEZZZ! JUST OVER!! A speculative ball is whipped into the box and Jagielka takes a poor touch which allows it to run through to the Atletico Madrid player, who rifles a strike at goal! It was always rising though and just goes north of the crossbar! Another warning for England!
13` Johnson stretches his legs down the right-hand side and looks to exchange a one-two with Sterling, but Rodriguez has tracked the run well and just manages to stretch out a leg to reclaim possession for Uruguay. England getting some slight joy down that wing at the moment.
11` Jagielka receives the ball to feet at the back but just takes a lazy touch which gives Suarez a cause to pounce forward. Luckily for England, the defender gets there first and clears up the park! It's probably ill-advised to do that around the Liverpool man!
10 `ROOONEEEYYY!! HOW CLOSE WAS THAT?! The Manchester United man steps up and curls the ball over the wall towards the top corner. It looks in all the way but just strays wide of the post at the last minute! Unlucky!
9` Yellow Card Diego Godín
9` Sturridge collects the ball 25 yards out and takes a few strides forward before cheekily dinking a pass through to Rooney, but the ball never meets it's mark as Godin cynically sticks out a hand to block the route through. The Uruguay captain is the first player to enter the book.
7` Sterling shows a clean pair of heels in the middle of the park but is then tripped up and England get the free kick. Baines is tasked with the set-piece and he floats it into the area, but Uruguay manage to clear from the edge of the six yard box.
5` That's a dodgy one from Hart! The corner kick is wickedly whipped towards the front post and the England goalkeeper has to re-adjust to get down and palm away before the set-piece can nestle into the corner!
4` First glimpse of Suarez as he bursts down the left-hand side and exchanges a one-two with Lodeiro before smashing a cross into the box. It comes off the head of Cahill and goes out for a Uruguay corner kick.
3` Oscar Tabarez's heart will be in his mouth as he sees Muslera almost gift the ball directly to the feet of Sturridge. The Englishman initially did well to turn Gimenez but half gave up as the Galatasaray keeper came out to collect, then fumble. He recovers just in time to reclaim though.
2` Welbeck fires a ball straight into the feet of Rooney and it luckily cannons straight into the path of Johnson, who slides a ball down the channel for Sterling, but the Liverpool man is just ushered out of contention by Pereira.
For England and Roy Hodgson, it is as you were. The Three Lions boss fields the same XI that lost against Italy, but with one slight amendment. It does appear as if Rooney will be deployed just behind Sturridge after playing the previous match on the wing, with Sterling being shifted out to the left-hand side.
The biggest news to bring you from that folks is that Luis Suarez does indeed start for Oscar Tabarez's side. The English Premier League star is aiming to shake off his knee injury and features up top alongside Edinson Cavani, in a formidable Uruguay strike force. The veteran coach of the South American side has been forced to shuffle the pack in defence. With Diego Lugano injured and Maxi Pereira suspended, Jose Gimenez and Alvaro Pereira come in at the back.
England (4-2-3-1): Hart; Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines; Henderson, Gerrard; Sterling, Rooney, Welbeck; Sturridge.
Uruguay (4-4-2): Muslera; Caceres, Gimenez, Godin, Pereira; Gonzalez, Arevalo, Lodeiro, Rodriguez; Cavani, Suarez.
TEAM NEWS...
England may have lost their opening match, but there is definite cause for optimism heading into the encounter tonight. The Three Lions recorded their highest ever pass completion rate in a World Cup fixture in the match against the Italians, and have never conceded two or more goals in three consecutive games in the competition.
Uruguay and England have faced each other twice in the World Cup previously The South American side came out victorious in the quarter-finals of the 1954 competition, with the next clash in 1966 finishing as a 0-0 stalemate. Their last clash overall however came eight years ago, when goals from Peter Crouch and Joe Cole sealed a 2-1 friendly win for England.
The build up to this match has largely been dominated by two names: Wayne Rooney and Luis Suarez. The Englishman's form has been second-guessed since before the tournament even started, and despite putting in a decent performance and assisting Daniel Sturridge's goal against Italy, has still come under criticism. Suarez did not feature in the opening World Cup match for his nation as he still battles to recover from knee surgery, and even though there are still question marks over his fitness, it is likely we'll see the Liverpool striker tonight.
Both England and Uruguay enter the match tonight with their World Cup hopes hanging by a thread thanks to their respective defeats in the opening matches. Roy Hodgson's men put in a spirited performance on Saturday evening, with Raheem Sterling in particular impressing, but ultimately succumbed to a 2-1 defeat against Italy. The South Americans, on the other hand, looked jaded and uninspired as they were outplayed by a ruthless Costa Rica side, and lost 3-1.
Commentary & Report: Goal dot com
Comments