History was made on Friday in Dallas, Texas. And it was delivered with the most audacious penalty kick you’ll see at this World Cup.
Egypt have beaten Australia 4-2 on penalties after a gripping 1-1 draw across 120 minutes at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, clinching their first-ever World Cup knockout stage victory. Not just the first at this tournament — the first in the history of Egyptian football. The Pharaohs, playing in their fourth World Cup, had never won a single match at this stage of the competition. That wait is over. And it ended with tears, history, and a panenka that will live in football folklore.
Let’s rewind to the beginning. Egypt took an early grip on the contest when Al Ahly midfielder Emam Ashour flicked home a glancing header from a Karim Hafez cross in the 13th minute to make it 1-0. The Pharaohs were the better side in the opening half, and Omar Marmoush — the Manchester City attacker — should have doubled the lead seconds into the second half when he slid the ball agonisingly off-target from close range. A chance that could have changed everything.
Because six minutes later, fate delivered a cruel twist to Egypt’s own defender. Mohamed Hany — who had already scored an own goal against Belgium in the group stage — headed into his own net from an in-swinging Australian free-kick under immense pressure, levelling it at 1-1. It made Hany the first player in World Cup history to score two own goals in the same tournament. Extra time came and went with both sides unable to find a breakthrough. Penalties beckoned.
And then Tony Popovic made the call that will haunt Australian football for years.
In the 119th minute, with the shootout seconds away, the Australia coach substituted goalkeeper Patrick Beach — who had been outstanding throughout, denying Salah, Ramy Rabia, and Attia with smart saves — for the more experienced Mathew Ryan. The logic was understandable. Ryan has penalty experience. He’s done it before. But in football, logic doesn’t always win.
Harry Souttar stepped up first for Australia and blazed his penalty clean over the crossbar. The Socceroos were immediately on the back foot. Egypt converted their first two kicks calmly. Then came the moment. Mohamed Salah — Egypt’s captain, talisman, the man who has carried a nation’s hopes on his shoulders for over a decade — stepped up for Egypt’s third kick. He had already told his teammates before the game that this was the biggest stage of their lives. Now he was going to show them exactly how to handle it.
He ran up. He chipped it straight down the middle. A panenka — the most brazen, coolest penalty kick in football. Ryan dived left, the ball dropped softly into the net, and Salah wheeled away with pure, unbridled joy. Asked about it afterward, he was characteristically brilliant: “If someone was going to do it, it was going to be me. I decided last minute. I don’t know if it’s my last World Cup or not, so I had to do it.”
After five consecutive conversions, 18-year-old Australia substitute Lucas Herrington stepped up needing to score — and hit the crossbar. Hossam Abdelmaguid then calmly sent Ryan the wrong way to complete the 4-2 victory and trigger absolute pandemonium among Egypt’s supporters.
When the final whistle blew, Salah was in tears. Real, raw, overwhelming tears. “It’s history,” he said. “I told the boys before the game this is the biggest stage you can play in your life. Just enjoy it.”
Egypt now advance to the Round of 16 in Atlanta on Tuesday, where they face Argentina — Messi, seven goals, and all. Somewhere in Dallas on Friday night, Salah was already thinking about it. “We have to respect both teams and we’ll see what’s next.” Sky Sports
Pharaohs are marching. And nobody is laughing at Egypt anymore.
Man of the Match: Salah
