Salah weeps as Egypt stun Australia on penalties

Mohamed Salah was left in tears after Egypt beat Australia on penalties 4-2, securing their first-ever World Cup knockout win. The match swung on substitute goalkeeper Mat Ryan’s late gamble, Emam Ashour’s opener against his own goal to complete the decisive 4

When Mohamed Salah walked off after the final whistle, the moment had nothing left to hide. Egypt had won their first ever World Cup knockout tie, the kind of night that turns nerves into history — and Salah could only respond with tears.

Australia’s departure was quieter, heavy with regret. The Socceroos went into the penalty shoot-out with a bold choice: their goalkeeper was changed minutes before the kicks. It looked like a swing for the fences. In the end, it backfired.

The shoot-out ended 4-2 in Egypt’s favour after normal time finished 1-1. Emam Ashour gave Egypt the lead with a first-half strike that was cancelled out by a Mohamed Hany own goal in the second half of regulation. From there, it was all about who stood up in the biggest moments.

Salah made sure Egypt’s nerves stayed calm. The former Liverpool forward dispatched his penalty with a cheeky dink as the Pharaohs edged the contest.

The turning point everyone will remember, though, came on Australia’s goal-line. Starting keeper Patrick Beach had been the Socceroos’ key man in the tournament and kept them in the game with a reflex save at point-blank range. But he was hauled off before the shoot-out — a call that left coach Tony Popovic facing an outcome he could not control.

Substitute Mat Ryan. a former Brighton and Arsenal player. did not look like he would change the direction of the night. He never got near any of the penalty kicks that mattered. and he finished with no saves to his name as Egypt converted. Ryan was brought in to do the impossible. Instead, he watched.

Beach, meanwhile, had been a hero for Australia in the group stage against Turkey — and he carried that reputation into this match. He made a save-of-the-tournament contender, denying a Ramy Rabia header from point-blank range. But once he was replaced, that story ended abruptly.

Salah, visibly moved at full time, explained what he had tried to put into his teammates before the penalty pressure hit. “I told the guys ‘this is the biggest game you will play in your life, don’t let the pressure get to you’. I am happy we created history today.”

The scenes during the build-up to the shoot-out only added to the drama. As cameras swept across the sidelines. Egypt players were seen watching a laptop of penalty footage — specifically a compilation of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. The quick reaction from many fans was confusion. but the explanation was practical: they were studying every penalty that Australia goalkeeper Mat Ryan has faced this season.

The clips showed a pattern. Ryan, now of Spanish side Levante, was quick to move and dive one way. Egypt’s players stuttered their run-ups, adjusted their approach, and it came up trumps.

And while the decision to watch those highlights puzzled spectators. the match itself had another spotlight moment — and it wasn’t the players people talk about most. Egypt have Mohamed Salah, Zico and Trezeguet in their ranks, along with Manchester City star Omar Marmoush. But in this World Cup run, it was Emam Ashour who kept insisting on being the difference.

Ashour scored in a vital 1-1 draw against Belgium earlier in the tournament, helping Egypt finish on five points and reach the knockout stages for the first time. Against Australia, he did it again.

His goal was handled with confidence. He ghosted into the penalty area, found space at the back post, and headed home from a cross by Karim Hafez.

Ashour, 28, plays for Al Ahly — and four other members of Egypt’s starting XI also play there. At domestic level, he has scored 30 goals in 86 games from midfield. It is his first World Cup, and at the biggest stage, he is flourishing.

Even with Salah’s quieter start — he spent much of the first hour subdued, only to start warming up and causing problems in the latter stages — Egypt found their rhythm through the midfield leadership of Ashour and the resolve of the team.

For Australia. the pain came in two ways: the gamble at goalkeeper. and the cruel swing of a World Cup statistic. Own goals in World Cup history number 67. But this match added another layer to the frustration for Ramy Rabia. who diverted into Mohamed Hany’s own goal here after doing the same against Belgium two weeks ago.

Harry Souttar had his own personal frustration. The Leicester defender — once of Sheffield United, Stoke City and Fleetwood Town — wheeled off in celebration, but the decisive touch did not come from him. The goal was not ultimately his.

Souttar also took a penalty in the shoot-out. The big defender did not get the decisive moment — his penalty was skied — and that is how this night will follow him.

Australia may have felt they deserved more, especially after an inspired defensive display by the 6ft 6in Souttar. But when the final sequence ended. the script belonged to Egypt: a first-ever World Cup knockout win. Salah in tears. and a shoot-out that turned on one risky last-minute call that simply didn’t pay off.

Mohamed Salah Egypt vs Australia World Cup knockout penalty shootout Mat Ryan Patrick Beach Emam Ashour Mohamed Hany own goal Tony Popovic Ramy Rabia FIFA World Cup Al Ahly Levante