Egypt's World Cup heartbreak: Argentina completes stunning late comeback
Egypt were minutes away from a historic quarter-final spot before Argentina scored three late goals to seal a dramatic victory.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Saiflee100
Egypt stood on the verge of their greatest-ever World Cup result, holding a 2-0 lead over reigning champions Argentina with just 12 minutes of normal time remaining. A quarter-final spot was within their reach until the match took a dramatic turn.
Cristian Romero reduced the deficit in the 79th minute, followed by an equaliser from captain Lionel Messi just four minutes later. The comeback was completed in the second minute of stoppage time when Enzo Fernandez headed home the winner, leaving Egypt shell-shocked.
The match was marred by controversy, with Egyptian staff and players furious over a disallowed goal for Mostafa Zico and a denied penalty claim for Mohamed Salah just before Argentina's decisive goal. Head coach Hossam Hassan publicly criticized the officiating, claiming his team suffered a clear injustice.
We have been treated unfairly today. We have suffered injustice. I'm not convinced with this outcome. Hossam Hassan
Despite the heartbreak, the performance was a landmark moment for Egyptian football. Having finally secured their first-ever World Cup win earlier in the tournament against New Zealand, this display against the champions cemented their belief that they belong among the world's elite.