Akinfeev denied Koke and Aspas to send Russia through

BeSoccer 6 years ago 791 |

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Aspas' penalty was saved to send Spain packing. Screenshot/Telecinco

The lottery of the penalty shootout struck again on Sunday as hosts Russia dumped Spain out of the World Cup in Moscow after goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev denied both Iago Aspas and Koke.

Andres Iniesta took the first sport-kick at the Luzhniki, finding the net to put the pressur on Fyodor Smolov, who responded in kind.

Despite the pressure rising with every kick, Gerard Pique and Sergei Ignashevic both did their bits to make it 2-2 and bring Koke to the plate.

However, the Atletico Madrid midfielder was denied by Akinfeev away to his right, with Russia taking advantage of the slip as Aleksandr Goloving rifled home.

'La Roja' skipper Sergio Ramos calmed the nerves by scoring next, only for Denis Cheryshev to net and pile the pressure on Iago Aspas, who knew that a miss would put his side out.

July 1, 2018

Lady luck turned her back on Spain, with Akinfeev once again denying his opponent, this time with a foot, to send Spain home with their tails between their legs.

Just as in 2002 against South Korea, Spain once again saw their World Cup campaign ended by a host nation,