Gimenez's header steals a late victory over Salah-less Egypt

Egypt went into the potentially decisive Group A match without talisman Mohamed Salah, who wasn't deemed fit enough to start due to a shoulder injury sustained during the Champions League final in May.

His absence may have given their opponents Uruguay a false sense of security as they lacked their stereotypical finishing during the first half at the Ekaterinburg.

Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani had a handful of chances throughout but surprisingly couldn't convert. 

A weak low shot from Cavani, which was comfortably saved, was followed by bad miss from Suarez in the opening stages, who couldn't direct his volley from a cut-back on goal.

His Paris Saint-Germain compatriot then danced past a few Egyptian players before smashing a powerful half-volley at goal, which needed an important header from Ahmed Hegazy to direct out for a corner.

The biggest chance of the half fell to Suarez though. From a corner, the ball went over a mass of bodies to land at the forward's feet but he fired his close-range shot into the side netting instead. 

It meant both teams would go into the break goalless and it would arguably be Egypt's head coach Hector Cuper who would be the happier of the technical areas.

Oscar Tabarez must have given his side a firey team-talk because they came out the blocks all guns blazing after the restart and nearly stole the lead through Suarez.

Egypt failed to deal with a ball over the top which was thread through to the Barcelona star. However, goalkeeper Ahmed El-Shenawy was quick off his line to block the resulting shot.

The 'Pharaohs' were then forced into an early substitution to replace the injured Tarek Hamed, marking a series of changes which killed all momentum in the game. Although Salah failed to make his entrance.

Cuper's side would emerge the stronger team though with Ahmed Fathy striking a venomous 35-yard volley across goal which forced a great save from Fernando Muslera.

Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny also went very close as his attempt far lob dropped just over the crossbar.

But overall it was difficult to contain the constant threat of Suarez and Cavani as the game dragged on. The latter flicked the ball to the former in the box to put him one-on-one with El-Shenawy but the shotstopper was quick to sense the threat and did well to collect the ball at Suarez's feet without conceding a penalty.

Needless fouls from the Egyptians started to creep in as they became increasingly tired and this is where Uruguay got their two best opportunities of the match. 

The first saw Cavani's free-kick crash into the far post but the 'Pharaohs' failed to completely deal with the rebound and gave their opposition another set-piece out on the right wing.

This time they did find their breakthrough with Jose Gimenez rising highest in the box to fire his effort into the back of the net.

It was heartbreaking for Egypt given the effort and defensive work they had put in all game but the World Cup is about seizing your moments and many will now wonder whether it was worth chucking Salah on at the end.

The result means Uruguay move level with Russia on points in Group A's standings with the former taking on Saudi Arabia next while the hosts will face a dejected Egypt on Tuesday.