A 15-minute collapse all but ended Egypt’s brief World Cup campaign after they slumped to a 3-1 loss to Russia in their second World Cup Group A clash on Tuesday, with the hosts becoming on the brink of reaching the last 16.
Egypt looked composed in the first half, having welcomed back Mohamed Salah who sat out the opening 1-0 defeat by Uruguay after coach Hector Cuper opted not to rush him back into action after he recovered from a shoulder injury.
However, an own goal from veteran full-back Ahmed Fathi just two minutes into the second half had a damaging effect on Egypt, who needed a win to stand a realistic chance of reaching the second round.
The sudden goal took the wind out of Egypt’s sail and they dramatically collapsed, allowing Russia’s Denis Cheryshev and Artem Dzyuba to score two quick-fire goals and end the match as a contest.
Salah restored some pride after converting a 73rd-minute penalty awarded with the help of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) after Paraguayan official Enrique Caceres initially adjudged the Liverpool forward to have fallen outside the area.
However, it was too little, too late, as the loss virtually ends Egypt’s hopes. Their only mathematical chance of keeping alive their campaign lies in the highly unlikely outcome of minnows Saudi Arabia defeating Uruguay on Wednesday.
Egypt, who are making their third World Cup appearance and their first since 1990, are at the bottom with no points. Russia top the group with maximum six points, followed by Uruguay on three before the South American powerhouses meet Saudi Arabia.
Salah is back
Egypt looked shaky in the opening stages, giving away possession several times and struggling to string any passes together.
Russia pressed Egypt high up the pitch, forcing their opponents into mistakes, one of which gifted the hosts an early chance when Aleksandr Golovin dispossessed Tarek Hamed and fired a low shot just wide.
Egypt recovered from a slow start to gradually find their rhythm and step up a gear, sending repeated long balls to Salah who drew cheers every time he controlled the ball but had a largely subdued game.
They went close with two efforts from the edge of the area after finding it difficult to penetrate a watertight backline, with the usual combination between Salah and playmaker Abdallah El-Said failing to materialize in the final third.
Mahmoud Trezeguet narrowly missed the target with a curling shot and Salah tried a similar move, sending a left-foot effort on the turn just wide after a clever dummy from lone striker Marwan Mohsen three minutes before the break.
Egypt looked a shadow of their disciplined self in a second half to forget.
An innocuous shot from Aleksandr Golovin after a cross was half-heartedly pushed by keeper Mohamed El-Shennawi was turned into the net by Fathi’s knee as he attempted to clear.
Cheryshev made it 2-0 in the 59th minute when some slack marking saw him slot home after a pull-back from Mario Fernandes and Egypt’s defence then crumbled further, conceding a third three minutes later.
Giant striker Dzyuba tamed a long ball after it eluded Ahmed Hegazi, nutmegged Ali Gabr and beat El-Shennawi with a firm shot at his near post.
Egypt appeared disjointed after losing any hopes of a comeback, but they still pushed forward in a bid to score their first World Cup goal since Magdi Abdel-Ghani converted a penalty in a famous 1-1 draw with then European champions the Netherlands in 1990.
Salah rifled home the penalty into the roof of the net but that was good as Egypt got on a disappointing night in Saint Petersburg.
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