Mohamed Salah was the saviour for his crew as soon as once more, as Egypt got here from behind to beat Morocco 2-1 after further time on the Africa Cup of Nations.
The quarter-final tie was a stop-start affair with extra fouls and clashes among the many gamers than probabilities on aim, however the Pharaohs had sufficient high quality within the last third due to their talismanic No10 to provide you with two medical moments from shut vary – and had been indebted to goalkeeper Mohamed Abougabal, who went off injured after a incredible late save.
It had all began very positively for the Atlas Lions, with PSG full-back Achraf Hakimi striding into the field and being introduced down simply a few minutes into the sport.
Regardless of the referee one way or the other not recognizing the foul, VAR insisted on a pitchside monitor test and the spot-kick was duly given – Sofiane Boufal confidently rattling dwelling the penalty for a 3rd aim of the event.
With Egypt having solely scored twice of their 4 matches previous to this one, Carlos Queiroz’s aspect needed to provide you with a really completely different plan – happily, possessing one of many recreation’s most in-form gamers this season made their process considerably extra manageable.
After a primary half of few additional probabilities, Salah discovered the equaliser simply minutes after the restart, tapping dwelling from shut vary after an preliminary header was saved and parried again out to him.
Mostafa Mohamed and Omar Marmoush each tried their luck from vary as Egypt nearly edged on prime by possession and territory, however the recreation’s finest alternative for a late winner got here on the different finish. Nayef Aguerd powerfully headed at aim after a cross from the left, however Abougabal sprung into motion to tip the trouble onto the crossbar and out. He appeared to tug a thigh muscle in making the cease and, regardless of trying to soldier on into further time, it quickly grew to become obvious that his motion was too restricted.
Third-choice goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhi changed him a couple of minutes after the extra half-hour started, earlier than Egyptian followers had been capable of break into celebration quickly after.
Salah this time was the creator, occupying two defenders with a speedy dribble off the suitable flank and laying an ideal cross alongside the six-yard field for Trezeguet to slip dwelling.
Morocco had been spent and supplied subsequent to nothing in retaliation, their apathy summed up by a last-minute free-kick which noticed their very own goalkeeper Yassine Bono come up for it – however they as a substitute went quick, misplaced possession and virtually conceded a 3rd to Salah on the counter-attack with no ‘keeper in place, just for an overhit cross to power him to shoot into the side-netting from a slender angle.
The 2 targets had been sufficient although and Egypt now progress to face Cameroon within the semi-finals, a repeat of the 2017 AFCON last which noticed this 12 months’s hosts triumph on that event.
Sunday’s late recreation, the fourth and final quarter-final tie, noticed Senegal defeat Equatorial Guinea 3-1 to undergo to face Burkina Faso on Wednesday.
Sadio Mane’s by cross noticed Famara Diedhiou put Senegal forward earlier than Jannick Buyla equalised simply earlier than the hour mark – however the Lions of Teranga proved too robust within the closing levels. Cheikhou Kouyate put them again in entrance with simply over 20 minutes left on the clock, with the fit-again Ismaila Sarr marking his comeback from damage with the ultimate aim of the sport off the bench.
Kaynak: briturkish.com
