Volgograd -
Despite Mohamed Salah's second goal in the World Cup and a record set by their goalkeeper, Egypt could not preserve the initial advantage and succumbed 2-1 in their match against Saudi Arabia on Monday.
In a match between two teams already eliminated, the first goal came at the 22nd minute, resulting from a ball lost by the Saudis behind their midfield. Tarek Hamed sent a long and advanced pass to the Liverpool star, who chased the ball and deftly defined it, chipping the ball past goalkeeper Yasser Almoisalem.
The other goalkeeper, Egyptian Essam El Hadary, set a record as the oldest player to participate in a World Cup match at 45 years and 161 days. El Hadary is older than the coaches of three different teams competing in Russia. The previous record belonged to Colombian Farid Mondragón, who was 43 years old when he faced Japan in Brazil 2014.
And his participation was not just symbolic. He preserved his team's lead in the 41st minute when he saved a penalty executed by Fahad Al-Mullawad.
He couldn't repeat the feat. A new penalty, in injury time and validated by the video assistant referee, was converted by Salman Al Faraj.
When the match was about to end, in the fourth and final minute of added time, Salem Aldawsari scored the definitive 2-1 with no time for anything else.
Neither of these teams had the possibility of advancing to the round of 16 in a group where Uruguay qualified as the leader after defeating Russia, which also advanced to the round of 16. (D)