07/07/26 01:41:00
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07/07 13:40 CDT Lionel Messi leads Argentina to 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt
and spot in World Cup quarterfinals
Lionel Messi leads Argentina to 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt and spot in
World Cup quarterfinals
By JAMES ROBSON
AP Soccer Writer
ATLANTA (AP) --- Lionel Messi did it yet again at this year's World Cup.
The Argentina great scored another goal --- his eighth of the tournament ---
and led his team to an improbable 3-2 victory over Egypt on Tuesday despite
trailing by two with only 11 minutes of regulation time to play.
The defending champions will next face either Switzerland or Colombia in the
quarterfinals on Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri.
Messi, who was in tears after the final whistle, scored his record-extending
21st goal at the World Cup in the 83rd minute to level the score at 2-2.
Enzo Fernandez scored the winning goal in stoppage time to complete one of the
great World Cup comebacks. Cristian Romero started the rally in the 79th minute.
"This is a phenomenal group that never gives up," Fernandez said. "Four years
have passed since Qatar, and we've come to enjoy another World Cup --- and we
want to win it again. That's what we're aiming for."
Argentina had trailed 2-0 on goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico.
Messi also missed a chance in the first half when his penalty kick was saved by
Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir. He later hit the post when the score was 1-0.
Argentina is bidding to become the first team to win back-to-back titles since
Brazil did so in 1958 and 1962.
"I'm so emotional," Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. "What a group of
players, brother."
For much of the game, it looked like it would be a painful exit for the
39-year-old Messi in what might be the last of his six World Cups.
Egypt took a surprising lead in the 15th minute when Ibrahim got ahead of
Lisandro Martinez to meet Marwan Attia's cross and head the ball into the
bottom corner.
Argentina was quickly given the chance to level the match when Haissem Hassan
tripped Nicolas Tagliafico in the box moments later. Referee Franois Letexier
pointed to the penalty spot and Messi stepped up with an expectant crowd
waiting for him to score.
Shobeir had other ideas, diving to his left to block the shot for Messi's
second penalty miss of the tournament after also failing from the spot against
Austria in the group stage.
Despite being the all-time leading scorer at World Cups, Messi has now missed
four of eight penalty kicks at the tournament.
After Messi hit the post later in the half, Shobeir pulled off another great
save to stop Julian Alvarez from close range.
Egypt thought it had doubled its lead in the second half when Mostafa Zico
finished off a sweeping attack. But the wild celebrations were cut short when a
foul earlier in the move was confirmed on video review and the goal was
disallowed.
That second goal for Egypt did come in the 67th from a similar break, and this
time Zico's effort counted. It just wasn't enough.
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James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
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See more of AP's World Cup coverage here
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