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≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡
Shock as the operative word on Tuesday, as Egypt was up 2-0 on defending champion Argentina with 11 minutes left, but Lionel Messi & Co. found a way to win, again.
● Argentina 3, Egypt 2 ● This match in Atlanta was turned upside down in the 15th minute, with a long cross from the right side of the field, well beyond the box, from midfielder Marawan Attia, that was headed in by defender Yasser Ibrahim between two defenders, into the right side of the Argentina net for the 1-0 lead!
Argentina got to work on an equalizer and in the 19th, forward Haissem Hassan was called for a penalty for submarining Argentine defender Nicolas Tagliafico in the box. Superstar Messi lined up for the penalty shot, but his drive to the right side was saved quite easily by Egypt keeper Mostafa Shoubir. It was the second penalty missed by Messi at the World Cup, also against Austria.
By the hydration break, Argentina had 55% of possession and shots were one apiece. The Argentines continued their assault, in Shoubir kept they scoreless. He stopped midfielder Alexis Mac Allister’s header in the 28th, and then a Messi free kick from above the box in the 31st hit the left post. In the 39th, striker Julian Alvarez’s run through the box led to a shot that was saved again by Shoubir.
At the half, Argentina had 60% possession and a 7-2 lead on shots, with Argentina starting on offense right way, but unable to find the net.
Egypt looked to strike again on a fast break in the 58th, with scoring star Mo Salah sending the ball to the left to oncoming midfielder Mostafa Zico, who sent a strike into the net for the 2-0 lead. But a foul was called on midfielder Marawan Attia at the start of the attacking play, way back in the Egyptian zone, nullifying the goal!
Another Egyptian fast break in the 67th looked almost the same as the one that was nullified earlier: Salah moved out, forwarded the ball to Hassan, who found Zico coming in from the right side and he finished with authority for the 2-0 lead (confirmed).
With 63% possession and 12-3 on shots, Argentina went into the second hydro break in serious trouble. The pressure continued and on the 79th, it finally worked with a cross by Messi from the right side in front of Egyptian goal that was headed in by defenders Cristian Romero to close to 2-1.
A Messi cross in the box was barely missed by striker Lautaro Martinez on a header in the 82nd, then a loose ball in the box was tipped by Martinez to defender Gonzalo Montiel, who popped it to his right to Messi, whose left-footed shot from the center of the box got through to the left side of the goal for the 2-2 tie in the 83rd!
Off a follow-up Egyptian flurry, Argentina regained possession and the ball moved to the right side of the field for Martinez, who sent a looping pass into the box where it was scored by Enzo Fernandez on a header as he essentially stopped in the box to create space, as the Egyptian defender kept going, at 90+2. Unbelievably, 3-2.
Egypt demanded the goal be nullified for a foul in the Argentina box before the scoring play begin, but this was waved off. After 11 minutes of extra time, it was over; Argentina had 64% possession and was 19-5 on shots, but it was three goals on 13 minutes that made the difference.
● Switzerland vs. Colombia ● In Vancouver (4 p.m. Eastern) A report will be posted after this match is completed.
≡ PANORAMA ≡
After 27 straight days of matches, 8 July will be a football-free days in preparation for the quarterfinals on 9-10-11 July:
Thursday, 9 July :
● France vs. Morocco: In Foxborough. (4 p.m. Eastern)
Friday, 10 July:
● Spain vs. Belgium: In Inglewood. (3 p.m. Eastern)
Saturday, 11 July:
● Norway vs. England: In Miami Gardens. (5 p.m. Eastern)
● Argentina vs. Switzerland or Colombia: In Kansas City. (9 p.m. Eastern)
The semifinals will be on 14-15 July in Arlington and Atlanta and the final in East Rutherford on the 19th. The third-place game in Miami Gardens will be on the 18th.
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