Egypt loses 2-1 to Saudi Arabia

CAIRO – 25 June 2018: Egypt lost 2-1 in their last game at the 2018 World Cup in Russia that was held in the Volgograd Arena.

Egypt continued their disastrous run in the tournament, losing all their three games in the group and coming in last. The Egyptian team failed to achieve their first victory ever in their World Cup history.

Egypt national team manager, Hector Cuper, decided not to make changes to the team’s line-up, with the exception of subbing Essam El-Hadary in as the goalkeeper, instead of Mohamed El-Shenawy, who played the previous two matches, leading the team to a sour loss.
Cuper gave the chance to veteran goalkeeper, Essam El-Hadary, who started the tournament as Egypt’s second choice goalkeeper, to play his first game at the tournament.
El-Hadary, who turned 45 last January, became the oldest player ever to play a game at the World Cup, surpassing Colombian goalkeeper, Faryd Mondragón’s record; Mondragón had played a World Cup match at 43 years and 3 days.

Cuper’s chosen squad for the game was: Essam El-Hadary, Ali Gabr, Ahmed Hegazi, Moamed Abdel-Shafi, Ahmed Fathy, Tarek Hamed, Mohamed El-Neny, Abdullah El-Said, Mahmoud Trezeguet, Maewan Mohsen and Mohamed Salah.

Saudi Arabia’s manager, Antonio Pizzi’s, chosen squad for the game was: Yasser Al-Mosailem , Moataz Hawsawi, Osama Hawsawi, Mohammed Al-Breik, Yasser El-Shahrani , Fahad Al-Muwallad, Salem Al-Dawsari, Abdullah Otayf, Salman Al-Faraj, Hattan Bahebri and Housain Al-Mogahwi.

Saudi Arabia dominated the first twenty minutes but Mohamed Salah managed to open the score after he received a great assist from Abdullah El-Said.

The referee granted the Saudi team a penalty 10 minutes later when Ahmed Fathi blocked the Saudi cross by hands but Fahad Al-Mowallad failed to equalize the score; El-Hadary made a great save.

Four minutes later, the referee granted another penalty for Saudi Arabia after Ali Gabr tackled Al-Mowallad and VAR confirmed the penalty; the penalty equalized the score: 1-1.

During the second half, both teams failed to create chances to score, however, Salem Al Dowsari granted his team the victory, scoring the second goal seconds before the final whistle, after a fine play between Saudi players, to end the game 2-1.

In the other game, Uruguay defeated the hosts, Russia, to top the Group table. Russia is second in the table with six points; Saudi Arabia in third with three points; and, Egypt at the bottom of the group with 0 points.