Russia beats Spain 4-3 on penalties to reach World Cup quarter-finals

Hosts Russia reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup on Sunday when they beat Spain 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Koke's third penalty for Spain was saved by Igor Akinfeev who then saved Iago Aspas's final shot.

Russia will face either Croatia or Denmark, who were meeting later on Sunday, in Sochi on July 7.


Russia's World Cup round of 16 tie against Spain went to penalties on Sunday after the two sides drew 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra time.

Spain took a 12th-minute lead when veteran Russia defender Sergei Ignashevich put into his own net. Artem Dzyuba equalised from a penalty for the hosts three minutes before halftime after Gerard Pique handled in the area.

There hasn't been a World Cup penalty shootout between two European teams since Italy beat France in the 2006 final.

Spain and Russia were locked at 1-1 at half-time in their World Cup last-16 clash in Moscow on Sunday after the home side scored a late penalty.

The 2010 world champions dominated possession against the hosts and went ahead courtesy of a Sergei Ignashevich own goal in the 12th minute.

Russia's Aleksandr Yerokhin made a little piece of World Cup history on Sunday when he became the first man to appear as a fourth substitute in a tournament match during the hosts' game against Spain in Moscow.

FIFA introduced a new regulation for the 2018 World Cup that allowed teams to use a fourth replacement in extra time, and coach Stanislav Cherchesov took advantage of it halfway through the first period, sending on Yerokhin for Daler Kuzyayev.

But as the clock ticked down to half-time, the referee adjudged that Gerard Pique had handled the ball and Artem Dzyuba made no mistake from the spot.