After the second everyone thought we were done for; a grave mistake. In a match where Egypt surprised not only at the start but also by extending the lead, the Argentine National Team, with the drive and grit that Lionel Scaloni highlighted beforehand, turned it around at the end 3-2 and qualified for the quarter-finals.
The match would start with divided possession and isolated chances from both sides. The one to break the mold would be the African team, which in its first truly dangerous chance would send the ball to the back of the net. At 14, Marwan Ateya would cross for Yasser Ibrahim, who would outmaneuver Lisandro Martínez and head it in for 1-0.
Shortly after, the Albiceleste would get an unbeatable chance to equalize: a penalty. At 18, Haissem Hassan would bring down Nicolás Tagliafico and the referee would award the penalty. The one to take the shot from twelve yards would be Lionel Messi, but his attempt would be saved by goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir Oufa.
Despite the bitter experience of being behind and missing the chance to equalize, the national team would not give up and would create some dangerous chances to level the match as soon as possible. Among them, a header from Alexis Mac Allister at 27 that Shobeir Oufa would save, a free kick from Messi at 30 that would hit the left post, and a dangerous shot from Julián Álvarez at 38 that the Egyptian goalkeeper would deflect.
In the second half, while Argentina would control possession and offensive advances, Egypt would do more damage with little. At 58, Hassan would make a personal run down the right flank, shaking off several defenders along the way, and would pass to Mohamed Salah, who would assist a Zico that would beat Dibu Martínez to score 2-0. However, the goal would be disallowed for a previous foul by Karim Hafez on Licha Martínez.
