WORLD CUP DAY 2
World Cup Recap: Cristiano Ronaldo steals the show with a hat-trick on Day 2
Jun 15, 2018, 5:10 pm
That Ronaldo guy is good at soccer. Photo courtesy of Nike, Inc.
After Thursday’s opening activities, action in the 2018 FIFA World Cup ramped up with three matches on Friday. Egypt vs. Uruguay and the heavy-hitting Portugal vs. Spain were the bouts on everyone’s checklist - particularly because a win could decide the group winner in their respective groups.
Egypt 0-1 Uruguay
Ekaterinburg Arena, Ekaterinburg
Attendance: 27,015
This match was one of the must-see today because of the star power that could potentially be involved in the result - Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah for Egypt and FC Barcelona’s Luis Suarez as well as Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani for Uruguay. Instead it wasn't a goalscorer but a defender - Atletico Madrid’s Jose Maria Gimenez - that decided the match to give Uruguay a clear path to winning the group.
To start the match, Egypt looked like the better side because they looked better organized and looked more dangerous moving forward despite not starting Salah. Salah was not expected in the starting XI but was on the bench, as expected as he makes his way back from a dislocated shoulder injury in the UEFA Champions League final. Cavani and Suarez did have opportunities but they were defended well by the Egyptian defense. The clearest opportunity in the first half came off a corner in the 24th minute where Suarez misses the target and hits the side netting. Six opportunities is what Uruguay generated in the first half but only one was on target. Egypt had 2/3 shots on goal in the first but in the end teams headed to the dressing room with a scoreless draw.
Uruguay looked much more dangerous in the second outing. La Celeste went for the win but Egypt just would not break. Egypt’s goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy was looking like the man of the match, forcing Suarez into tight spaces and saving a marvelous long-range attempt from Cavani. Salah would not come off the bench as the manager opted for other options but it was a gamble that looked like it would pay off - until the 89th minute. Uruguay had an opportunity off a free kick and it was all they would need to walk away with the 1-0 win.
Analysis: Not picking up results in the opening match can complicate teams, even the great ones, as we’ve seen in past World Cups. Uruguay was looking to head that way if they did not pick up a result. Fortunately, for them, they did pick up the three points and now look to be heading for the top of the group as all predicted.
Egypt on the other hand are still in good shape to go through despite the loss but a draw would have helped better their chances of getting a more manageable opponent in the round of 16. No sense in looking ahead now, as the pressure starts with host Russia up next.
Notable stat: Uruguay won their opening match to start a World Cup for the first time since the 1970 edition.
Morocco 0-1 Iran
Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg
Attendance: 62,548
This match was always going to leave much to be desired, especially considering the other two bouts of the day, which is why it was perfectly sandwiched in the middle of today’s TV schedule. Still, it was a must-win for both these teams because European powers Portugal and Spain are the other two teams in Group B. Both sides looked sloppy coming out of the gate an neither really did much to generate opportunities on goal. Everything shot at the goalkeepers was either a missed shot or something with not enough power behind it. It looked as though this would end in a scoreless draw but a winner was decided - sadly it was off a defensive mistake. An own goal by Moroccan forward Aziz Bouhaddouz when defending a free kick in stoppage time was the decider that gave Iran the three points.
Analysis: As mentioned, this was a must-win for either team given Portugal and Spain are the favorites to move out of this group. Still, if you wanted to give yourself a chance it was with a win here and hope other results work out for you in the next two matchdays. Ultimately, it still looks difficult for Iran but they’ve given themselves a chance and can already call this World Cup a success. Morocco on the other hand have to feel like they’re eliminated and are now staring at a winless trip with Portugal and Spain, respectively, up next.
Portugal 3-3 Spain
Fisht Stadium, Sochi
Attendance: 43,866
This match delivered great moments and left us wanting more. Six goals in total, a hat-trick by Cristiano Ronaldo and, of course, the drama of how Spain would react on the field just two days after parting ways with their head coach. Well, I hope you sat down to watch this one because highlights may not do it justice.
Less than five minutes into the first half, Cristiano Ronaldo gets dropped inside the box and to the penalty spot we go. As he’s done so clinically for Real Madrid in the Champions League, Ronaldo did here to put Portugal in the lead over their Iberian Peninsula neighbors. The lead would only last until the 24th minute when Diego Costa converted on an individual play but not before elbowing a defender on a controversial play. Both of the plays - the penalty and the Costa potential foul - did not go to video review despite having the ability to for the first time ever of a World Cup. Ronaldo would rally his troops and would shoot his shot right before halftime, one that becomes a goalkeeping blunder by who many consider the best keeper in the world in David De Gea, and Portugal heads into halftime with a 2-1 lead.
Diego Costa would match Ronaldo in the second half by tying the match in the 55th minute, a free kick attempt that touches the feet of three Spanish players before Costa pushes it in to goal. As the second half goes on, Spain look the more dangerous side and translate that form in to the scoreboard. Nacho would score in the 58th minute with a spectacular shot from long range to place the Spaniards up 3-2 over their rivals. Then, a free kick opportunity in the final stages of the second half. Of course, there was no doubt who would take the attempt. Ronaldo converts and Portugal tie it 3-3 in the 88th minute.
Analysis: This result leaves the top of the group open and, given that the Group B winner faces the Group A runner-up in the next round, that could mean the difference between facing Uruguay or Egypt/Russia. Despite it being a draw, it feels like a win for Portugal. For Spain, a win was needed to calm the waters of firing their coach two days ago. Regardless, the group will likely be decided now by whoever scores more against both Morocco and Iran.
Upcoming Matches (All Times CT):
Saturday, June 16
5 a.m. - [Group C] France vs. Australia (FS1, Telemundo)
8 a.m. - [Group D] Argentina vs. Iceland (FOX, Telemundo)
11 a.m. - [Group C] Peru vs. Denmark (FS1, Telemundo)
2 p.m. - [Group D] Croatia vs. Nigeria (FS1, Telemundo)
Sunday, June 17
7 a.m. - [Group E] Costa Rica vs. Serbia (FOX, Telemundo)
10 a.m. - [Group F] Germany vs. Mexico (FS1, Telemundo)
1 p.m. - [Group E] Brazil vs. Switzerland (FS1, Telemundo)
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Astros keep doing this, and it’s getting hard to ignore
Jun 25, 2025, 10:01 pm
While the rolling Astros have a week of possible World Series preview matchups against the Phillies and Cubs, it’s the Rockets who made the biggest local sports headline with their acquisition of Kevin Durant. What a move! Of course there is risk involved in trading for a guy soon to turn 37 years old and who carries an injury history, but balancing risk vs. reward is a part of the game. This is a fabulous move for the Rockets. It’s understood that there are dissenters to this view. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, including people with the wrong opinion! Let’s dig in.
The Rockets had a wonderful season in winning 52 games before their disappointing first-round playoff loss to the Warriors, but like everyone else in the Western Conference, they were nowhere close to Oklahoma City’s caliber. While they finished second in the West, the Rockets only finished four games ahead of the play-in. That letting the stew simmer with further growth among their young players would yield true championship contention was no given for 2025-26 or beyond.
Kevin Durant is one of the 10 greatest offensive players the NBA has ever seen. Among his current contemporaries only Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic make that list. For instance, Durant offensively has clearly been better than the late and legendary Kobe Bryant. To view it from a Houston perspective, Durant has been an indisputably greater offensive force than the amazing Hakeem Olajuwon. But this is not a nostalgia trip in which the Rockets are trading for a guy based on what he used to be. While Durant could hit the wall at any point, living in fear that it’s about to happen is no way to live because KD, approaching his 18th NBA season, is still an elite offensive player.
As to the durability concern, Durant played more games (62) this past season than did Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith, and Tari Eason. The season before he played more games (75) than did VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Alperen Sengun. In each of the last two seasons Durant averaged more minutes per game (36.9) than any Rocket. That was stupid and/or desperate of the Suns, the Rockets will be smarter. Not that the workload eroded Durant’s production or efficiency. Over the two seasons he averaged almost 27 points per game while shooting 52 percent from the floor, 42 percent from behind the three-point line, and 85 percent from the free throw line. Awesomeness. The Rockets made the leap to being a very good team despite a frankly crummy half-court offense. The Rockets ranked 21st among the 30 NBA teams in three-point percentage, and dead last in free throw percentage. Amen Thompson has an array of skills and looks poised to be a unique star. Alas, Thompson has no credible jump shot. VanVleet is not a creator, Smith has limited handle. Adding Durant directly addresses the Rockets’ most glaring weakness.
The price the Rockets paid was in the big picture, minimal, unless you think Jalen Green is going to become a bonafide star. Green is still just 23 years old and spectacular athletically, but nothing he has done over four pro seasons suggests he’s on the cusp of greatness. In no season has Green even shot the league average from the floor or from three. His defense has never been as good as it should be given his athleticism. Compared to some other two-guards who made the NBA move one year removed from high school, four seasons into his career Green is waaaaaay behind where Shae Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, and Devin Booker were four seasons in, and now well behind his draft classmate Cade Cunningham. Dillon Brooks was a solid pro in two seasons here and shot a career-best from three in 2024-2025, but he’s being replaced by Kevin Durant! In terms of the draft pick capital sent to Phoenix, five second round picks are essentially meaningless. The Rockets have multiple extra first round picks in the coming years. As for the sole first-rounder dealt away, whichever player the Rockets would have taken 10th Wednesday night would have been rather unlikely to crack the playing rotation.
VanVleet signs extension
Re-signing Fred VanVleet to a two-year, 50 million dollar guarantee is sensible. In a vacuum, VanVleet was substantially overpaid at the over 40 mil he made per season the last two. He’s a middle-of-the-pack starting point guard. But his professionalism and headiness brought major value to the Rockets’ kiddie corps while their payroll was otherwise very low. Ideally, Reed Sheppard makes a leap to look like an NBA lead guard in his second season, after a pretty much zippo of a rookie campaign. Sheppard is supposed to be a lights-out shooter. For the Rockets to max out, they need two sharpshooters on the court to balance Thompson’s presence.
For Astro-centric conversation, join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!
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