YEKATERINBURG, Russia: Uruguay beat Egypt 1-0 in their World Cup opener on Friday, with Jose Gimenez heading in the winner in the closing minutes of an otherwise uneventful match.
Star forward Mohamed Salah was on the bench for Egypt's first World Cup match since 1990 after injuring his shoulder while playing for Liverpool in last month's Champions League final.
The Group A encounter featured few good chances for either side before a late surge from Uruguay culminated in Gimenez's 89th-minute winner.
The result leaves Russia atop the group with three points after they routed Saudi Arabia 5-0 on Thursday. Uruguay also has three points while Egypt and Saudi Arabia have none.
Uruguay stars Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani wasted their chances. Suarez failed to beat goalkeeper Mohamed El Shennawy in two one-on-one situations and Cavani hit the post from a free kick with two minutes left.
Egypt has yet to win a World Cup match while Uruguay won its opening World Cup game for the first time since 1970.
