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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hossam Abdelmaguid scored the winning penalty as Egypt made history, with either defending champions Argentina or Cabo Verde their last 16 opponents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Australia head coach Tony Popovic threw on experienced goalkeeper Mathew Ryan for the penalty shootout in a last-gasp gamble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shooting towards the Egypt fans and whistles raining down, defender Souttar blazed the first penalty over to put the Socceroos on the immediate backfoot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slightly against the run of play Hossam Hassan’s men took the lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Socceroos had their first shot on target 10 minutes before the break when full-back Aziz Behich fired tamely at goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 34-year-old talisman Salah, who came into the match after a hamstring strain, made little impact in an attritional first 45 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The half ended with Jordan Bos, one of the fastest players at the tournament, in a heap after a robust flying challenge from Rabia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was Hany’s second own goal of the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Salah though was to prove more reliable in the shootout as Egypt triumphed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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