Egypt made it through to the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 after a tense 1-1 draw with Australia went to extra time before they eventually won 4-2 on penalties. ‘The Pharaohs’ kept their nerve in the penalty shootout to become the second African side to go through to the next stage of the knockout phase where they will face the winners of Argentina vs Cape Verde.
Cristian Volpato almost gave Australia the perfect start inside five minutes. The forward produced a spectacular effort from almost 25 yards that crashed to the crossbar and went over, a strike that would have been a contender for the goal of the tournament had it gone in.
It was Egypt who drew the first blood in the 13th minute. Mohamed Salah cleverly played a short free-kick to Emam Ashour. After the first shot was blocked, Australia couldn’t clear their lines and the ball was swiftly played back into the box where Ashour drifted in at the back post and headed home to make it 1-0.
However, the goal sparked Australia to life. Popovic’s side enjoyed long periods of possession and pushed Egypt back into their own half but the ‘Socceroos’ lacked the cutting edge to turn pressure into clear-cut chances before the break.
Minutes later, Egypt’s right back, Mohamed Hany’s tough evening only got worse. It was finally Australia who took advantage of a set-piece – a dangerous free kick from the left being glanced towards goal in the 54th minute. Harry Souttar looked to have snatched the equaliser but replays showed the ball took a decisive deflection off Hany to give the defender his second own goal of the tournament.
The own goal also made World Cup history. It was the 13th own goal of the ongoing tournament, the most in one edition. Hany became only the second player to score two own goals in the same World Cup after Bulgaria’s Ivan Vutsov in 1966.
Neither side could find a winner in normal time and the contest went into extra time. There were few chances until Salah finally woke up in the 113th minute, bursting past his man and winning a corner which Australia cleared.
In the dying moments before the shootout, Australia made a surprise tactical move, bringing in Patrick Beach for veteran goalkeeper Mathew Ryan in the 119th minute, hoping the experienced captain would make the difference from the spot.
The gamble didn’t pay off.
Egypt converted all four of their penalties with composure, while Australia stumbled as Harry Souttar and 18-year-old Lucas Herrington missed their kicks which ended Australia’s campaign in a heartbreaking fashion.
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