Russia pulled off a spectacular and improbable victory to stun Spain after extra time and penalties at Luzhniki Stadium to keep their home World Cup hopes alive and send one of the pre-tournament favorites packing.
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In the end, it was a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout that decided the game, scoring the winner after a Sergei Ignashevich goal and Artem Dzyuba penalty in normal time meant the two sides could not be separated after 120 minutes of football.
Goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev proved out as Russia’s hero after he saved two penalties of Koke and Iago Aspas while Russian players easily managed to beat star goalkeeper David de Gea.
Sergei Ignashevich became the oldest scorer of an own goal in World Cup history when the 38-year-old gave Spain an early lead in the 12th minute of the game.
But Russia soon got the equaliser in the 41st minute as Artem Dzyuba smashed home a penalty after his header was blocked by Gerard Pique’s arm in the box.
As Spain could not break the hosts down in extra-time, the match was later sent to shoot-out.
Akinfeev saved a terrible Koke penalty to put Russia in control and with David de Gea unable to stop any of the four kicks he faced, Aspas’ effort was brilliantly blocked by the Russian goalkeeper to spark chaotic celebrations.
With this win, Russia has now entered the quarter-final stage, and will face either Croatia or Denmark.
This has been a World Cup of the underdogs so far as the favourites Germany, Argentina, Portugal and Spain are knocked out before the quarter-final stage.