LUIS SUAREZ has been on his best behavior in Russia, scoring twice as Uruguay swept through the group stage with three straight victories — sending the two-time champion to the knockout round for the third straight World Cup.

Edinson Cavani also scored Monday against the host nation, which dropped its first match of the tournament. Both teams were already assured of spots in the knockout round, but Uruguay’s 3-0 victory over Russia put it at the top of Group A.

Uruguay, which also benefited from an own-goal in the first half, had its third straight shutout of the tournament after consecutive 1-0 victories over Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The Uruguayans and goalkeeper Fernando Muslera have not allowed a goal in any of the team’s six matches this year.

“After winning the first two matches 1-0, our goal was to get another,” Suarez said. “We wanted to play the same we had before, only better.”

By advancing to the round of 16 with victories over Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Russia secured its best World Cup showing in the post-Soviet era. But Uruguay — ranked No. 14 in the world — posed a far greater challenge to the hosts.

Suarez, who seems to have put past World Cup controversies behind him, scored with a low shot from just outside the box that sailed past the wall of Russian players and into the right corner of the goal. The striker then blew a kiss to the national team’s fans.(SD-Agencies)