Egypt beat Australia on penalties to reach World Cup last 16

Egypt win on penalties, into the last 16

History. Egypt beat Australia 1–1 (4–2 on penalties) on Friday and are through to the World Cup Round of 16 for the first time ever (1) (2) (10). This is your team's first knockout win at a World Cup, full stop (3). Mohamed Salah, Emam Ashour, Mohamed Hany, and Hossam Abdelmaguid all converted from the spot. Australia's 18-year-old Lucas Herrington saw his penalty saved, and the Pharaohs held their nerve (8) (9).

Salah's Panenka and the tears after

Mohamed Salah scored a Panenka in the shootout. He told the BBC it was a last-second decision. "I decided last minute!" (11). After the final whistle, Salah was in tears on the pitch (4) (7). He told the squad beforehand: "It's history. I told the boys before the game that this is the biggest stage you can play on. Enjoy it and don't let the pressure get to you" (2).

Mbappé helped Egypt prepare for penalties

Egypt's coaching staff studied Kylian Mbappé's penalty technique with the national team to prepare for the shootout (3) (16) (19). The homework paid off. Australia tried their own trick by subbing on keeper Patrick Beach for Mathew Ryan before the shootout, but it did not matter (3) (16).

Argentina up next

Argentina survived a scare against Cape Verde, winning 3–2, and will face Egypt in the Round of 16 (17). Lionel Messi and your Pharaohs, one game for a place in the quarter-finals.

Fan reactions

The footage of Salah crying after the final whistle hit hard across r/soccer, decades of near-misses, and the captain could not hold it in (2). Supporters are also posting the full list of Egypt's World Cup history going back to 1934, and the weight of that context is sinking in: this really was the first knockout win, ever (3). See the full timeline here.