Saudis beat Egypt at World Cup
VOLGOGRAD, Russia — 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, who is 45, took the field for his team’s final group match to set the record. Although 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 teammates. It was a great honor 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 first-half 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. El Hadary also made a series of good saves in the second half to deny Saudi Arabia, notably in the 69th minute when he tipped a header from Hussain Almoqahwi over the bar. A minute later, he parried away a goal-bound header from Muhannad Asiri.
He had no chance with Aldawsari’s last-gasp winner, however.
El Hadary overtook Faryd Mondragon as the oldest person to play at the World Cup. The Colombia goalkeeper was 43 when he came on as a late substitute in his team’s 4-1 victory over Japan four years ago at the World Cup in
Brazil.
“It is true that it was a special record today and many, many people in Egypt love him and support him,” Egypt coach Hector Cuper said. “and he has played a great game.” URUGUAY 3, RUSSIA 0: Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani scored a goal each and Uruguay went on to defeat Russia, finishing undefeated in group play and handing the host nation its first loss of the World Cup. Both teams were already assured of spots in the knockout round, but Uruguay’s victory put it at the top of Group A and looking toward a match in Sochi on Saturday against the second-place finisher from Group B. Uruguay, which also benefited from an own-goal in the first half, had its third straight shutout of the tournament after consecutive 1-0 victories over Egypt and Saudi Arabia. By advancing to the round of 16 with victories over Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Russia secured its best World Cup showing in the post-Soviet era.
A video replay in injury time gave Spain the goal it needed to win Group B at the World Cup. Spain substitute Iago Aspas scored the late equalizer in a draw with Morocco. His clever deflection off a cross from Dani Carvajal was initially disallowed for offside, but the video assistant referee overruled the call at Kaliningrad Stadium. Another substitute, Morocco forward Youssef En Nesyri, headed in a goal in the 81st minute to give alreadyeliminated Morocco hope of a victory. Earlier, a mix-up by Andres Iniesta and Sergio Ramos gifted Morocco its first goal of the World Cup. Iniesta quickly made amends by setting up Isco at the other end to bring Spain level at halftime. With Portugal also drawing with Iran, Spain progressed as group winner because it scored more goals.
PORTUGAL 1, IRAN
1: Cristiano Ronaldo’s missed penalty cost Portugal first place in its World Cup group. Portugal finished second in Group B after a draw with Iran. The 2016 European champions will next face Uruguay on Saturday in the round of 16. Instead of Ronaldo, it was Ricardo Quaresma who scored for the Portuguese. The 34-year-old midfielder responded to his first start of the tournament by producing one of the more aesthetically pleasing goals of group play. Quaresma hit a curling shot with the outside of his right foot from the edge of the penalty area that went beyond the reach of diving Iran goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand. Quaresma’s goal came on a night when Ronaldo — who had scored all four Portugal goals in its first two games — was denied on a penalty shot. Karim Ansarifard scored a late penalty for Iran.