Mohamed Salah and Egypt are moving on. The Pharaohs knocked out Australia in a penalty shootout on Friday, winning 4-2 from the spot to book their first-ever trip to the Round of 16 in World Cup history.
It was a night of high drama and even higher stakes. Egypt went perfect from the penalty mark, converting all four of their attempts. Australia, meanwhile, crumbled under the pressure. Two of their kicks clattered off the crossbar, and that was all the opening Egypt needed.
For a country that has never won a knockout match at a World Cup before, this was massive. Players collapsed to the turf in celebration. Hossam Abdelmaguid, who buried the decisive penalty, ripped his shirt off and sprinted across the grass like a man who just won the lottery. It was pure, unfiltered joy.
The game itself was a tight, nervy affair. Eman Ashour put Egypt ahead early, giving the Pharaohs a lead they held onto for most of the match. But in the 55th minute, disaster struck for Egypt when Mohamed Hany accidentally turned the ball into his own net. Just like that, it was 1-1.
Neither side could find a winner in regulation or extra time. So it came down to penalties. And that’s where Egypt’s nerve held while Australia’s cracked.
What’s Next for Egypt?
Egypt now waits. Their opponent in the Round of 16 will be the winner of Argentina vs. Cape Verde. That’s a brutal potential matchup. Argentina is Argentina. But Cape Verde has been a surprise package in this tournament, and nobody should sleep on them either.
If Egypt somehow pulls off another upset and gets past the Argentines, they’d likely face Switzerland or Colombia in the quarterfinals. Colombia, in particular, looks dangerous. They play Ghana on Friday night, and if they win that, they’d be a serious test.
But that’s getting ahead of ourselves. For now, Egypt gets to celebrate. They’ve already made history. And in a World Cup where upsets have become the norm, maybe they’re not done yet.
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