Saturday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup action features two games: France vs. Argentina and Uruguay vs. Portugal. Check below for game reports, highlights and other key facts from World Cup 2018 Day 17.
4 p.m. ET: Uruguay 2, Portugal 1 (Final):
Two of soccer’s biggest stars saw their 2018 FIFA World Cup run end Saturday.
Not long after Lionel Messi and Argentina fell to France in the teams’ Round of 16 game, Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal countrymen suffered a similar fate at the hands of Uruguay. Ronaldo was held goalless in the match, as Las Celeste eliminated the reigning European champions with a 2-1 victory in Russia.
It didn’t take very long for Uruguay to find the back of the net. With the help of a great feed from Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani posted the game’s opening tally with a strong header.
Suarez finds Cavani at the back post to put Uruguay up 1-0 early in the game! pic.twitter.com/BUlHpqWSI0
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 30, 2018
The two sides went scoreless for the remainder of the first half, but Portugal didn’t waste much time evening the score in the second, courtesy of Pepe in the 55th minute.
Pepe equalizes for Portugal!
The defender finds himself free in the box and heads it home to make it 1-1 with over 30 minutes left to play. pic.twitter.com/oJbXZKuKwT
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 30, 2018
Portugal’s momentum was short-lived, however, as Cavani notched his second goal of the game just seven minutes after Pepe knotted the score.
PURE. CLASS. 🔥
Cavani one-times a curler into the back of the net to re-take the lead for Uruguay. pic.twitter.com/JZhmTqE1s4
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 30, 2018
From there, Uruguay went into full defense mode, fending off Portugal and booking its ticket to the quarterfinals in the process.
Man of the Match:Â Cavani, of course. Need we explain?
The @Budweiser #ManoftheMatch for #URUPOR was @Uruguay's @ECavaniOfficial! pic.twitter.com/nSQKnMfKBK
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 30, 2018
Up Next: Uruguay and France will meet in a quarterfinal match Friday at 10 a.m. ET.
Noon ET: France 4, Argentina 3 (Final):
France continued its 2018 FIFA World Cup dreams Saturday, while Lionel Messi and Argentina’s came to a screeching halt.
Argentina held a 2-1 lead early in the second half in Russia, but Les Bleus exploded for three quick goals to take a commanding 4-2 advantage. Argentina scored in the closing minutes and had a chance to tie on its final possession, but France held on to advance to the quarterfinals.
Here are the game’s goals, in order:
Griezmann puts France ahead!
Mbappé draws a penalty for Les Bleus and Griezmann puts it away to make it 1-0. pic.twitter.com/pzj63fhQi0
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 30, 2018
ANGEL DI MARIA! 😱😱😱
The Argentinian unleashes a rocket from outside of the box to pull them level just before the half. pic.twitter.com/pWbSsYR1eN
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 30, 2018
Argentina take the lead! 🇦🇷
Messi's shot gets redirected into the back of the net by Mercado to make it 2-1 just minutes into the second half. pic.twitter.com/5jpBjCbdmy
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 30, 2018
Pavard to Di Maria: Anything you can do I can do better! 🚀😱 pic.twitter.com/ugnBrIyp0i
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 30, 2018
Mbappé puts France ahead!
He collects the loose ball in the box and fires it home to make it 3-2 for Les Bleus. pic.twitter.com/gCdhCD5C0e
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 30, 2018
Mbappé AGAIN!
The 19-year-old gets his second of the game to put France up 4-2. pic.twitter.com/1mY2fN2MBc
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 30, 2018
Sergio Aguero pulls one back for Argentina!
Enough time for an equalizer? pic.twitter.com/2uadLZjk6d
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 30, 2018
And here’s how close Argentina came to tying the match:
Argentina were *this* close to an equalizer in stoppage time. pic.twitter.com/Nj3e4CuxJh
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 30, 2018
Unreal.
Man of the Match:
Kylian Mbappe, who netted two goals and was all over the field for the French.
The @Budweiser #ManoftheMatch for #FRAARG is @KMbappe! pic.twitter.com/qukbCOeYk6
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 30, 2018
Next Up:
France will return to the pitch Friday at 10 a.m. ET when it meets Uruguay in the quarterfinals.