Uruguay and Iran both scored late to grab first up wins at the Fifa World Cup.
Uruguay's Jose Gimenez cannoned in an 89th minute header to deal Egypt a 1-0 defeat in their opener, just as the North Africans appeared to have escaped with a point despite missing key striker Mohamed Salah.
Gimenez rose perfectly to meet a Carlos Sanchez free kick and score the goal that broke a 48-year Uruguayan 'curse' of failing to win in the opening game of the World Cup finals.
World Cup football fans Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Egypt came within minutes of surviving largely thanks to the heroics of goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy, who bravely dived to snatch the ball from Luis Suarez' feet and then flung himself through the air to tip a Edinson Cavani volley wide.
Salah's absence came as a surprise after coach Hector Cuper had said yesterday he was almost 100 percent certain to play.
The Liverpool striker, who turned 26 on Friday, injured his shoulder in the Champions League final against Real Madrid, and millions of Egyptians had been on tenterhooks to see if he would recover in time for the tournament.
He now has four more days to work on his fitness before Egypt face Russia in St Petersburg, while Uruguay will play Saudi Arabia the next day in Rostov.
Meanwhile a stoppage-time own goal from substitute Aziz Bouhaddouz gave Iran a dramatic 1-0 win over Morocco.
Iran left back Ehsan Hajsafi whipped in a free kick five minutes into added time and Bouhaddouz launched himself at the ball, flashing a header past his own keeper Munir Mohamedi.
The Iranians, who had not won a World Cup game since their victory over the United States in 1998, celebrated as if they had won the tournament but they now have a chance in a group where they must now face favourites Spain and Portugal.
-Reuters
