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Inter Milan midfielder Matias Vecino played 87 minutes of Uruguay’s 1-0 win over Egypt Friday in both team’s 2018 World Cup opener in Yekaterinburg.
Of note for Egypt is Liverpool striker Mo Salah sat out the entire game nursing a shoulder injury.
It was a header by Jose Gimenez in the 89th minute that proved to be the game-winner as neither team was able to mount much in the way of a serious offensive attack throughout the game.
GIMENEZ GIVES URUGUAY THE LEAD LATE IN THE GAME! INCREDIBLE! #EGYURU #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/EZsKN7ypPF
— The Ballers' Pitch (@theballerspitch) June 15, 2018
For Vecino’s part, he was able to recover 12 balls while completing 103 passes and won 82 percent of his duels, according to Opta.
Egypt nearly kept level with Uruguay thanks to goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenaway who made stops against Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani throughout the match.
Vecino blasted a shot from outside 35 yards in the 29th minute, but the shot went wide to the left. His only other attempt came in the 83rd minute when Carlos Sanches sent in a cross from the corner that Vecino attempted to head home, however his shot went right of the post.
Vecino came off in the 87th to give way to Lucas Torreira.
Uruguay will be in action next Wednesday when they face Saudi Arabia – a 5-0 loser to host Russia – in Rostov. Uruguay sit level with Russia on three points in Group A.
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