Uruguay 2-1 Portugal: 5 things we learned


Reuters/MURAD SEZER

Uruguay edged a tense encounter with Portugal in Sochi, courtesy of sublime finishing and movement from Edinson Cavani. 

The Paris St-Germain forward was brilliant throughout, and two moments of class were enough to separate the sides and send Uruguay through to the last eight. 

In a game that would always be decided by a goal either way, Uruguay had the better of the opening exchanges, taking the lead through a fine Cavani header from a Luis Suarez cross. 

Portugal dominated possession, enjoying long periods of the ball in the Uruguay half, but struggled to create many opportunities against a defence which had yet to be breached. 

The Portuguese, though, drew level shortly after the break as Pepe coasted into the Uruguay penalty area unchallenged, heading past Fernando Muslera from a Raphael Guerreiro cross. 

Eight minutes later, Cavani raced onto a ball from Rodrigo Bentancur and finished excellently with a first-time effort into the far bottom corner to restore Uruguay's advantage. 

Portugal, for all their possession, lacked the killer instinct and final ball as Uruguay held firm in the final thirty minutes to see the game out and book their place in the last eight. 

Here are five things we learned from the game:

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