WC26: Egypt Beats Australia In Penalties, First Ever Knockout Win

Egypt claimed their first World Cup knockout victory Thursday, defeating Australia 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw, per ESPN. Egypt held a 1.32 to 0.84 edge in expected goals throughout the match. Australia's decision to substitute goalkeeper Mat Ryan for Patrick Beach in the final 90 seconds backfired. Ryan, brought on specifically for the shootout, failed to stop any of Egypt's four attempts while Harry Souttar and 18-year-old Lucas Herrington each missed for Australia. Emam Ashour broke the deadlock in the 13th minute, heading home a follow-up cross after his free-kick attempt was blocked. The goal was Ashour's second international strike and the 250th in World Cup history. Australia equalized when Mohamed Hany turned Aiden O'Neill's inswinging free-kick into his own net. The own goal was Hany's second of the tournament, making him only the second player in World Cup history to score two own goals in a single tournament, joining Bulgaria's Ivan Vutsov in 1966. It was also the 13th own goal of this World Cup, a new tournament record. Mohamed Salah converted Egypt's third penalty with a chipped effort down the middle as Egypt won a shootout for the first time in five attempts. "I decided last minute, I don't know if it's my last World Cup so I had to do it," said Salah. "It's history: I told the boys before the game this is the biggest stage you can play in your life."