Salah Captains Egypt to First-Ever World Cup Knockout Victory
Arlington, Texas. No matter what Mohamed Salah decides about his future with Egypt's national team — whether he plays in another World Cup or not — the star striker can now say he captained his country to its first victory in the tournament's knockout stage.
Hossam Abdelmaguid converted the decisive penalty, and Egypt marked its knockout-round debut with a 4-2 shootout victory over Australia after a 1-1 draw on Friday.
Australia goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, who replaced starter Patrick Beach late in extra time, was unable to stop any of Egypt's four penalties.
The victory came in Egypt's fourth World Cup appearance and its first since the tournament expanded to 48 teams. Australia fell to 0-3 in World Cup knockout matches.
Egypt will face defending champion Argentina in the Round of 16 on Tuesday in Atlanta.
"My feeling today is that it's incredible," said Salah, the 34-year-old former Liverpool forward who is one goal shy of coach Hossam Hassan's Egyptian record of 69 international goals. "I always like seeing the boys happy and enjoying the moment. Nothing can match that. So today was one of the best days of my life."
Harry Souttar missed Australia's opening penalty, sending his shot over the bar, and 18-year-old Lucas Herrington struck the crossbar with the team's fourth attempt, setting up Abdelmaguid's winner for the Pharaohs.
The 25-year-old Abdelmaguid, who had never scored in 15 international appearances, calmly sent his penalty low to the left as Ryan dived the opposite way, sparking jubilant celebrations among the crowd of 70,244 at the sold-out home of the Dallas Cowboys, many of them dressed in Egypt's red colors.
Egypt had never won a World Cup match before defeating New Zealand 3-1 in the group stage less than two weeks earlier.
"I was only thinking about the Egyptian fans," Hassan said through a translator. "During the entire match and during the penalty shootout, I was just praying, 'God, please make the Egyptian people happy.' Even before the penalty shootout, to be honest."
Mahmoud Saber, Ramy Rabia and Salah also converted their penalties for Egypt. Salah started and played every minute of regulation and extra time despite a hamstring injury sustained in the team's group-stage finale.
Jackson Irvine and Awer Mabil scored in the shootout for Australia.
"When I went to the players and talked to them, I wanted to take some pressure off," Hassan said. "Do not think about the pressure. Just let everything out. Don't think about anything else. Think about your penalty kick. Don't even think about the goalkeeper. Just think about your kick."
Emam Ashour gave Egypt the lead in the 13th minute, heading home a cross that beat Beach inside the near post.
Australia equalized in the 55th minute when Egypt defender Mohamed Hany became the first player to score two own goals in the same World Cup.
The own goal came after Aiden O'Neill delivered a free kick from the left side of the penalty area and Hany inadvertently headed the ball past goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubir. Hany's first own goal came in Egypt's 1-1 draw with Belgium during the group stage.
Less than 10 minutes earlier, Hany had gone down near the same area after colliding with Connor Metcalfe while defending a header. Medical staff attended to him with a stretcher standing by, but he was helped to his feet and continued playing after what appeared to be a concussion assessment.
Australia's only goals in World Cup knockout matches have come via opponents' own goals. The Socceroos lost 1-0 to Italy in 2006 and 2-1 to Argentina four years ago in Qatar, with the latter goal also resulting from an own goal.
"It hurts when you get that close," Australia coach Tony Popovic said. "Unfortunately, we bow out in a penalty shootout, so it's difficult to take right now."
Omar Marmoush had a golden opportunity to double Egypt's lead seconds into the second half but dragged his shot wide.
The late goalkeeper switch to the 34-year-old Ryan, making his 105th international appearance, came despite several outstanding saves by the 22-year-old Beach, who was earning just his sixth cap for the Socceroos.
Beach produced a sprawling stop to deny Rabia's header in the closing moments of regulation and then comfortably gathered Salah's effort seconds later.
Egypt had one final chance before the end of regulation, but Haissem Hassan's shot was blocked by Souttar, who deflected it with his knee.
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