Australia beaten in penalty shootout by Egypt

It was heartbreak for Australia as their campaign in the FIFA World Cup to an end after they suffered a 4-2 defeat on penalties to Egypt in the Round of 32.

Level 1-1 after 120 minutes, Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington missed in the shootout as Australia’s wait for a first-ever FIFA World Cup knockout stage win continued.

Hossam Abdelmaguid scored the winning penalty as Egypt made history, with either defending champions Argentina or Cabo Verde their last 16 opponents.

Australia head coach Tony Popovic threw on experienced goalkeeper Mathew Ryan for the penalty shootout in a last-gasp gamble.

Shooting towards the Egypt fans and whistles raining down, defender Souttar blazed the first penalty over to put the Socceroos on the immediate backfoot.

The next five players all scored, before 18-year-old Australia defender Herrington hit the bar. Abdelmaguid kept his nerve to send Egypt through to leave talisman Mohamed Salah in tears of joy and break Australia hearts.

Popovic’s side had nearly taken the lead with less than five minutes gone as Cristian Volpato – who switched to Australia from Italy on the eve of the FIFA World Cup – rattled the top of the crossbar.

Egypt, who won a FIFA World Cup match for the first time in the group phase when they beat New Zealand 3-1, looked nervy at the back.

Slightly against the run of play Hossam Hassan’s men took the lead.

Australia forward Nestory Irankunda failed to pick up Eman Ashour, who headed home at the back post from a cross by Karim Hafez for his second goal of the tournament.

The Socceroos had their first shot on target 10 minutes before the break when full-back Aziz Behich fired tamely at goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubir.

The 34-year-old talisman Salah, who came into the match after a hamstring strain, made little impact in an attritional first 45 minutes.

The half ended with Jordan Bos, one of the fastest players at the tournament, in a heap after a robust flying challenge from Rabia.

Seconds after the restart it should have been 2-0 when Egypt’s Manchester City attacker Omar Marmoush slid the ball off-target from close range.

Egypt’s coach had said he was wary of Australia’s physical approach, and so it proved as Mohamed Hany headed under pressure into his own net from an in-swinging Socceroos free-kick.

It was Hany’s second own goal of the tournament.

Former Liverpool superstar Salah remained a peripheral figure but was involved in the build-up as Australian stopper Patrick Beach saved athletically deep in added time to keep out Ramy and force another 30 minutes.

Egypt finished normal time the stronger and Salah fired well over early in extra time on his weaker right foot, with penalties looking increasingly inevitable.

Salah though was to prove more reliable in the shootout as Egypt triumphed.