Drama in Egypt

LIVE: Messi in the Starting Lineup! Argentina vs. Egypt

Lionel Messi scored the equalizer in the 83rd minute.(Bild: AFP/ELSA)

World Cup madness! With a dramatic turnaround, defending champion Argentina narrowly avoided elimination in the Round of 16. Trailing 0–2 against Egypt after nearly 80 minutes, Lionel Messi and his teammates turned the game around in Atlanta within 13 minutes and prevailed 3–2 (0–1) in regulation time. 

The Egyptians, defending with great determination, were on the verge of a sensation thanks to an early goal by Yasser Ibrahim (15th) and a counterattack goal by Mostafa Zico (67th), before Cristian Romero (79th), Messi with his eighth goal of this World Cup (83rd minute), and Enzo Fernández (92nd minute) sealed the comeback.

(Bild: AFP/ODD ANDERSEN)

Messi Struggles from the Spot
In front of 68,239 spectators, things went anything but according to plan for Argentina. The first shock came early, as Ibrahim headed the ball past goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez after a short corner was played against the goalkeeper’s run. The Albiceleste seemed unsettled afterward—even Messi. Mostafa Shoubir easily saved his weakly taken penalty kick following a foul by Haissaem Hassan on Nicolas Tagliafico. Messi had already missed a penalty against Austria—now he became the first player to miss two penalties in a single World Cup (excluding penalty shootouts).

(Bild: AP/Erik S. Lesser)

The water break that followed changed the game significantly. Egypt defended with intense focus, effectively digging in, while Argentina applied constant pressure. But for the time being, Shoubir stood between the South Americans and the equalizer. He stopped a header from Alexis Mac Allister that was too direct (28th minute) and successfully stretched to block a shot by Julian Alvarez (39th minute). Messi also hit the outside of the post on a free kick (31st minute).

(Bild: AP/Colin Hubbard)

Egypt’s defensive wall didn’t crumble until late
The second half brought nothing new. Even Messi kept running into the tightly packed defensive lines time and again, and there was a lack of penetration in the box. And the next shock followed promptly: After a perfect counterattack—and what was, up to that point, their only offensive move of the second half—Egypt scored their second goal through Zico. But Argentina had luck and VAR on its side: The goal was disallowed due to a foul in the build-up (59th minute).

The next Egyptian counterattack was “clean,” and this time Zico’s celebration stood. After that, Lionel Scaloni’s team continued to furiously pound away at the slowly crumbling defensive wall and regained hope with Romero’s header off a Messi cross. About five minutes later, the “God of Soccer” scored the late equalizer off a rebound, and in stoppage time, Fernández struck the decisive goal off a cross from Lautaro Martínez.

(Bild: AFP/ELSA)

Argentina – Egypt 3–2 (0–1)
Atlanta, 68,239, Referee: Letexier (FRA)

Goals: 
0–1 (15.) Ibrahim
0–2 (67.) Zico
1:2 (79.) Romero
2:2 (83.) Messi
3:2 (92.) Fernandez

Note: Messi had a penalty kick saved by Shoubir (21')

Argentina: E. Martinez – Molina (73' Montiel), Romero (95' Otamendi), Li. Martinez, Tagliafico (66' Gonzalez) – De Paul (66' La. Martinez), Paredes, Mac Allister, Fernandez – Messi – Alvarez (95' Medina)

Egypt: Shoubir – Hany, Ibrahim, Rabia, Hafez – Hassan (73' Trezeguet), Lashin (96' Zizo), Attia, Ashour (46' Fathy) – Salah, Zico (82' Marmoush)

Yellow cards: none / Shoubir, Fathy, Attia, Hassan