Arlington: The Socceroos have suffered World Cup heartbreak, eliminated in a penalty shootout against Egypt, and the elusive knockout stage win at the tournament for Australia remains out of reach.
Defender Harry Souttar blasted his penalty over the bar, and 18-year-old Lucas Herrington’s later effort hit the post as Australia lost their first World Cup shootout 4-2.
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic substituted goalkeeper Mat Ryan on in the 119th minute ahead of penalties, but the selection gamble came to nothing as the veteran shot stopper failed to get near a Pharaohs chance.
In doing so, he took off Patrick Beach, whose miraculous reflex save moments before full-time kept Australia in the match and forced extra time. Popovic said the decision to bring on Ryan was not necessarily pre-planned but came during the match as Australia found themselves with unused substitutions.
“We just felt that Maty’s experience would be the difference,” Popovic said. “In the end, it didn’t, it didn’t work out that way, but not because of Maty’s poor judgment or lack of ability; they took critical penalties.”
The coach also backed the decision to give a penalty to Herrington, saying he has total faith in the teenager in pressure moments despite his young age.
“I’m sure you’d all be saying something else if the young kid scored,” he said. “He has played the last two games as an 18-year-old, so if I trust him to play in a game that we needed to get a result, it’s paramount in a game that elimination was on the line. What’s the difference?”
It was Australia’s third loss in the knockout stages of the World Cup in what was considered a prime opportunity to win one, given how evenly matched the two sides were. Egypt, who are into the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time, will now play the winner of Argentina and Cape Verde in Atlanta next Wednesday (AEST).
The Socceroos fought their way back into the contest having gone down a goal early, taking control of the match for large periods even after an injury to key attacking threat Jordan Bos. Australia forced the equaliser in the 54 minute.
In a tournament where he’s sprung selection surprises at each turn, Popovic did so again for this game by naming an unchanged line-up from the Paraguay game for the first time in his 22 games in charge of the national side.
It almost paid dividends. Christian Volpato nearly opened the scoring in the fifth minute when a strike off his favoured left foot sailed high, kissing the crossbar on its way through.
A minute later, it was Volpato again, this time deftly flicking the ball on to Jordan Bos, who made a storming run into Egypt’s box before the ball was cleared in a desperate, last-ditch defensive intervention.
But the bright start faded in the 13th minute when a momentary defensive lapse following a set-piece put the Socceroos behind. Emam Ashour headed home a perfectly weighted cross in the 13th minute after being left unchecked at the back post.
The danger came after midfielder Jackson Irvine conceded a free-kick on the edge of Australia’s 18-yard box during Egypt’s first real venture into the Socceroos’ half.
Ashour’s initial shot, after the free-kick was laid off to him by Mohamed Salah, was blocked by the Australian defence, but the clearance only made its way back to Karim Hafez. The fullback floated a second ball back into the danger zone for the waiting winger to nod home.
Australia wrestled control of the first half back after the first hydration break, evening up possession and asking questions of the Egyptian defence. Aziz Behich forced Pharaohs keeper Mostafa Shobeir into a save just before halftime after the Egyptian backline failed to effectively clear a long throw-in.
Bos went off at halftime after a heavy tackle from Rami Rabia where he suffered an apparent left knee injury.
Nick Ralston is the deputy editor and investigations editor for The Sydney Morning Herald. He has previously spent time as news editor, justice editor and world editor.Connect via X or email.
