Egypt keeper El Hadary can’t save the day
The oldest person to play in a World Cup match made some spectacular saves Monday.
He also watched two go past him.
Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, 45, took the field for his team’s final group match to set the record. While he saved one penalty, he couldn’t stop Saudi Arabia from winning 2-1 in a game between two teams that had already been eliminated.
“I am very sorry for the fans, for everyone in Egypt,” El Hadary said.
“I want to thank my team- mates. It was a great honour for me to play.”
Salem Aldawsari scored the winner for the Saudis with almost the last kick of the match, volleying past El Hadary from a tight angle inside the Egypt penalty area.
Mohamed Salah, playing for the second time since injuring his left shoulder in last month’s Champions League final, had put Egypt ahead in the 22nd minute after deftly controlling a long ball from Abdalla Said and then lobbing goalkeeper Yasser Almosailem.
It was Salah’s second goal at the World Cup, and Egypt’s first in open play at the World Cup since 1934.
Salman Alfaraj got the Saudis level with a penalty kick in firsthalf stoppage time after Ali Gabr brought down Fahad Almuwallad in the area. The decision was confirmed after a video review and the penalty was taken in the sixth minute of injury time.
“I think that in general we kept control of the pace, we kept possession and I think that we deserved to win,” Saudi coach Juan Antonio Pizzi said. “Talking about the future, well, the association will have to decide what they’re going to do.” Almuwallad had earlier missed a chance to equalize when El Hadary saved his penalty. The veteran goalkeeper dived to his right and flicked his left hand up to push the shot onto the bar before it was cleared.
El Hadary was unable to repeat the feat at the end of the half, going the wrong way and having no chance as Alfaraj scored from the spot.
Saudi Arabia finished third in Group A with three points while Egypt was last.