Confederations Cup hosts Russia are playing Mexico in Kazan in their final Group A match. Cherchesov’s team need to win to guarantee a semifinal spot, while Mexico need just a point to reach the knockout stages. Follow the action with our live updates below.
24 June 2017
For a full match report, CLICK HERE.
Ronaldo has picked up another man of the match award for the game in St. Petersburg - that's three in three for the Portugal star. The award for the Mexico-Russia game went to El Tri striker Hirving Lozano. The 21-year-old striker was lively on his first appearance at the tournament, and got what turned out to be the winning goal.
Full-time: Mexico 2-1 Russia. The hosts are out of the Confederations Cup at the group stage, while Mexico are through to the semifinals. A cracking game, but not the result Russia needed.
(90+1) Alanis goes in the book for Mexico. All the Russian players high up the pitch now.
Nani has added a fourth for Portugal in injury time. Looks like a rout in the north of Russia.
Over in St. Petersburg, Portugal are now 3-0 up against New Zealand.
The All Whites are heading home with three defeats in three games, and are yet to win a game at four Confederations Cup tournaments. Andre Silva added the third for the European champions.
(87 mins) Mexico keeping the ball well, Russia looking very leggy now. They've fought hard since going down to 10 men, but it's been to big an ask for them.
(80 mins) Russia are still giving it a good go. They are racing to get the ball forward every time they win back possession, but the clock is against them. If only that Smolnikov chance had gone in...
(78 mins) Another change for Russia - striker Maksim Kanunnikov, of Rubin Kazan, comes on for Smolov. The Russia No. 9 had a quiet game by his standards.
(75 mins) To their credit, Russia are really having a good go. The attendance at Kazan Arena is announced as 41,585 - just short of a full-house.
Igor Smolnikov was on the pitch after coming on for Erokhin; Mexico also made a change, bringing on Oswaldo Alanis in place of Andres Guardado.
(72 mins) CLOSE! Smolnikov breaks into the box and is found by Poloz, but the righ-back puts it over from 5 yards out with the goal at his mercy. Big miss in the context of this game and Russia's tournament.
That Zhirkov red card was the first of the tournament - and from a Russian point of view was exactly not what they needed. Mexico will have a one man advantage for the last 20 minutes as they protect their 2-1 lead.
That could be that. Russia are down to 10 men after Zhirkov backs into Mexico's Miguel Layun and directs an elbow into his face. He's given another yellow to add to the one he got early in the first half. That was unnecessary from the Zenit St. Petersburg man, and he's left his team with an even bigger task.
(68 mins) Red card for Yury Zhirkov
(64 mins) Kudryashov picks up a yellow for Russia, just before Dmitry Poloz enters the fray. His Rostov teammate Bukharov is the man to make way.
Looking at the replays, Moreno seemed marginally offside, but the hosts won't be complaining - they have a reprieve.
(59 mins) Confusion as Hector Moreno has the ball in the net and the Mexican team celebrate but the VAR shows he was just offside. That would have been that for Russia - big let-off for them there.
(58 mins) CLOSE! Erokhin curls the ball just past Ochoa's left-hand post. That's more like it from the hosts.
Russia have a mountain to climb now - they need two goals in 35 minutes or they are heading out of the Confederations Cup.
A terrible mess for Russia at the back. Mexico fire a long ball up the pitch in hope more than anything. The ball takes a big bounce and Akinfeev comes to meet it outside his box but makes a complete hash of it and Hirving Lozano nips in to dink the ball in. The Russian keeper is usually so reliable, but what was he doing there?
Hirving Lozano (52’)
GOAL! Mexico 2-1 Russia
The referee stops play as Russian defender Georgy Dzhikya goes down in the box. He clashed with Chicharito there. The Russian players seem to indicate there was foul play involved, replays inconclusive.
(48 mins) Disallowed goal - Russia have the ball in the net through Samedov but he's well offside. No need for the VAR there. Bright start from the hosts though.
(46 mins) Russia on the attack right away. The ball comes in to Smolov, but he mistimes his volley and fails to connect properly, skewing it well wide.
Some first-half stats for you: Mexico had 65% percent possession. Russia had six shots on goal to Mexico's five, but Osario's team hit the target four times, while Russia had just two strikes on target. Russia committed 11 fouls to Mexico's two - some tough-tackling in there highlighting the intensity of that first half.
First-half analysis from RT Sport's Danny Armstrong
Astonishing first half in Kazan. Plenty of talking points from the opening 45 minutes. Russia will feel aggrieved by some of the decisions by Saudi Arabian referee Fahad Al Mirdasi. Firstly, his decision not to award a penalty when Fedor Smolov seemed to be tripped in the box by Araujo the Mexican defender. A couple of minutes after the event Al Mirdasi pulled it back to be reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), but then again refused to give the penalty. Nevertheless it was Russia who drew first blood, Aleksandr Samedov got the opener when he slotted the ball left footed past Ochoa just moments after Smolov hit the post from 25 yards out. Then Al Mirdasi made another questionable decision when he decided to award a free kick to Mexico for handball even though the Russia defender seemed to guard his face from an incoming shot, with the ball bouncing out for a corner. Araujo it was who equalized with a looping header over Igor Akinfeev from the resulting play to make it 1-1. As it stands Russia will be heading out of the tournament and Mexico will advance to the semi final stage along with Portugal who currently lead New Zealand in St. Petersburg. All square here in Kazan.
(45+1) Erokhin rises to meet a cross but heads well over. That looks like the last action of the first half.
The fourth official signals two minutes of added time as Russia press into the Mexico half again.
(44 mins) Back in Kazan, Russian defender Kudryashov takes a painful-looking knock and needs some treatment. Cherchesov remonstrates with the fourth official - he wasn't happy about that.
Portugal are now two up against the Kiwis in St. Petersburg. Bernardo Silva got the second. Russia can't rely on the All Whites now.
The free-kick was tame and was saved comfortably by Akinfeev. Russia now pressing as we approach half-time.
(41 mins) Chicharito was down for Mexico after taking a knock on the right. The free-kick was cleared, but then Glushakov collided with Guardado and Mexico have another free-kick, this time more central...
Diego Reyes can't continue for Mexico and is replaced by Luis Reyes (no relation, as far as we know).
(39 mins) Mexico with a spell of keep-ball while Russia take a breather. The start was frenetic. Diego Reyes goes down for Mexico after playing a pass - look like he's pulled a hamstring.
(35 mins) Russia work the ball into the Mexico box but are crowded out and can't fashion a chance. 10 minutes till half time - this first period has flown past.
Over in St. Petersburg, Ronaldo has scored a penalty for Portugal. They lead New Zealand 1-0. Russia are out as it stands.
(32 mins) Russia look to his back immediately as Erokhin breaks through. He's one-on-one with Ochoa but fires over under pressure from the retreating defender.
The Russia lead proved short-lived. The ball comes looping into the Russia box, and Nestor Araujo evades his man at the backpost to head the ball over Akinfeev and in. He might have actually been trying to head the ball back across the box there, but it ended up in the back of the net in any case.
Nestor Araujo
(30 mins) GOAL! Mexico 1-1 Russia
(30 mins) Russia will need to settle now after that frantic start. Sitting back and trying to protect the lead could prove very dangerous though, given Mexico's potent attacking threat.
(27 mins) That goal is arguably no more than Russia deserve after really taking the game to Mexico. They will feel robbed by the penalty shout that was turned down, but will feel justice was done there.
Aleksandr Samedov fires in after a breathless passage of play. First, Fedor Smolov hits the post, before the ball comes back into the box. Erokhin takes an airshot but it falls to Samedov, who slots past Ochoa in the Mexico goal.
(25 mins) GOAL! Mexico 0-1 Russia
(21 mins) Bukharov just strays offside for Russia. Stanislav Cherchesov's team are starting to really increase the pressure.
There looked like contact into the back of Smolov from the Mexican defender - but the VAR says no!
(17 mins) Another penalty shout for Russia as Fedor Smolov goes down under pressure in the box. We go to the VAR...
(13 mins) Russian midfielder Denis Glushakov snaps into another tackle. The Spartak man will be key to Russia's chances in this game. CSKA youngster then drags his man down and gives away a free-kick. Mexico enjoying 68% of possession in these opening stages.
(12 mins) Zhirkov finds space on the edge of the Mexican box but shoots wide. The Russian winger has been lively so far.
Mexican wave going around the ground. Ironic that the little spots of supporters in green shirts seem not to be joining in.
(11 min) Mexico are harrying the Russian defense, not giving them a chance to settle at all. Any notions of them coming for the draw have been dispelled in these early stages.
(9 mins) Zhirkov gets a yellow card after clattering into Carlos Vela. Guardado swings in the free-kick for Mexico but Russia clear.
(7 mins) Looking like an open game so far, play ebbing back and forth with both teams showing attacking intent.
(6 mins) Yuri Zhirkov bursts into the Mexico box and goes down looking for a penalty - looked like the contact was minimal. The referee doesn't bother troubling the VAR.
(5 mins) Mexico press and Hirving Lozano fires in the first shot of the game, but Akinfeev saves comfortably in the Russian goal.
Big chants of 'Rossiya' right away from the crowd. They will be important in helping their team push for the win today.
We are underway in Kazan - remember hosts Russia must win to guarantee a place in the semifinals.
Here are the team sheets:
Team news – NZ v Portugal
Meanwhile up in St. Petersburg, the main news is that Cristiano Ronaldo is IN the team after it was widely expected he’d be rested. It looks like New Zealand will be in for a tough afternoon.
For New Zealand, 18-year-old Dane Ingham starts again after impressing against Mexico.
Kiwi stopper Stefan Marinovic said before the tournament that a clean sheet against the European champions would be the highlight of his career. We’ll see how that pans out…
Pancho Villa’s Army
Mexico fans are some of the most vibrant and vociferous in all of world football. They have been enjoying themselves in Kazan ahead of the game. RT Sport’s Danny Armstrong has been taking in the atmosphere with the El Tri fans, including their well-known Pancho Villa’s Army fan group.
RT Sport's Danny Armstrong is at Kazan Arena today to bring you the latest updates from the game.
Team news – Mexico v Russia
With his team almost certainly needing to win today, Russian boss Stanislav Cherchesov faced the dilemma of taking the game to Mexico or being more cautious in the opening stages and hoping to get a goal or two on the counterattack. It looks like he’s gone for the first option – he’s deploying two up front with Fedor Smolov and Aleksandr Bukharov, and has brought Aleksandr Erokhin into midfield. It’s a bold line-up from the Russian boss.
As expected, Mexico boss Juan Carlos Osorio has made sweeping changes from the team that scraped the win against New Zealand, opting for a 4-3-3 and bringing back numerous players, including top scorer Hernandez to lead the attacking line. Notably, highly-rated youngster Hirving Lozano, 21, gets his first game time at Russia 2017. Defender Hector Moreno – goal-scoring hero against Portugal – has also recovered from a knock and is in.
An interesting stat: Mexico are the most attacking team at the tournament so far, having had 33 attempts on goal, scoring four. Russian keeper Igor Akinfeev has the top stats at the tournament so far though, with seven saves. He’s conceded just once – from Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
Kazan Arena
Today’s Russia-Mexico game is taking place at the 45,000-seater Kazan Arena. Somewhat ironically, it’s the first time the Russian national team has played here, while Mexico opened the tournament here against Portugal, so will perhaps be more familiar with the venue. So much for home advantage – although the majority of fans will of course be supporting the hosts.
If Russia win, they will secure a semifinal spot. If they only manage a draw, they will be dependent on New Zealand causing an upset and beating Portugal. If they lose, they are out of the competition.
Mexico just need a draw to guarantee a semifinal spot, and can qualify even if they lose, should New Zealand beat Portugal.
New Zealand are already out of the tournament, having lost their opening two games against Russia and Mexico.
Portugal just need a point to guarantee qualification, regardless of what happens in Kazan. If New Zealand pull off a shock and beat them, they could be heading out, depending on what happens between Russia and Mexico.
Welcome to RT Sport’s live updates on the Confederations Cup Group A finale.
Hosts Russia are playing Mexico in Kazan, while New Zealand are taking on Portugal in St. Petersburg.
Here’s the state of play as we head into today’s games: