Hosts Russia beat Spain 4-3 on penalties thanks to two saves by their goalkeeper, Igor Akinfeev, on Sunday to advance to the World Cup quarterfinals. Akinfeev saved spot kicks by Koke and Iago Aspas after both teams had scored two apiece in what was Russia’s first World Cup penalty shootout, to send his team to the last eight after a lacklustre 1-1 draw over 120 minutes. There was high drama in the shootout for the 78,000 spectators at Luzhniki Stadium, with all four Russian penalty-takers keeping their cool and Akinfeev saving Aspas’s spot kick with his foot to trigger wild celebrations. "In the second half, we were trying to defend. We were hoping for penalties and that’s what happened, thank God," Akinfeev said. "We are having a fantastic World Cup." Spain, who have never beaten a host at World Cups or Euros, went ahead after 12 minutes when 38-year-old Sergei Ignashevich bundled into Spain captain Sergio Ramos at the far post, knocking a free kick in with his heel for the 10th o...
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