Egypt 1-1 DR Congo (7-8 on penalties): Seven-time AFCON champions Egypt crash out on penalties against the DR Congo
The DR Congo knock out the seven-time AFCON winners, Egypt, on penalties in dramatic fashion. It was the first game in this years tournament to go to extra time and then penalties.
It ended 1-1 in normal time, both goals coming in the first half as the Congo’s Meschack Elia scored to get his team ahead. A penalty was given away soon after though, put away emphatically by Mostafa Mohamed.
Yet another draw for both these sides who had drawn all three of their group games coming into this one.
They were also both missing key players: Mohamed Salah, Mohamed El-Shenawy, and Amam Ashour were out for the Pharaohs. Creative outlet Gaël Kakuta was out for the Leopards, all due to injuries sustained in the previous games.
There was a fast start to this encounter, the DRC’s Elia got a chance in the opening minutes after Théo Bongonda put him through creating a three on two, but Elia blasted it over.
Despite this the Pharaohs looked strong, taking charge of the match with their possession and generating promising chances to score. Mohamed Elneny and Marwen Attia were controlling the midfield.
Egypt had the bulk of possession but the Leopards looked dangerous on the counter through Yoanne Wissa and Elia.
The first goal came for the Congolese in the 37th minute after a swiftly taken throw in by Arthur Masuaku to Wissa who attempts the cross but it ends up being deflected off the Egyptian defender, sending the goal keeper off his line for Elia to header in from point blank range.
It only took a few minutes for Egypt to level it up, as Hegazy goes up for a header in the DRC’s box and gets an elbow in the face from Dylan Batubinsika, who gives away a penalty and receives a yellow card. Perhaps a little soft, nevertheless Egypt’s striker Mostafa Mohamed smashed the ball into the top corner from 12-yards.
An extremely fast paced, physical, and end-to-end first half.
The second would start the same way. The Congolese would get the first chance of the half through another break from Elia who put in a cross for Bakambu but he strikes the side netting in the 51st minute.
Egypt would then have a good period for themselves, the game constantly ebbing and flowing.
Egypt could’ve wrapped it up in the 84th minute when the ball falls at substitute Omar Marmoush’s feet but he scuffs the chance.
The Pharaoh’s looked the more likely in the final minutes but the Leopards defended well to see it through to extra time.
The physical nature of the game would carry on to extra time when Congolese substitute Simon Banza clashed with Hegazy, as the two big men were battling it out for possession of the ball.
In the 96th minute, a lately timed challenge comes in from Egypt’s Mohamed Hamdy who was already on a yellow, and is dismissed after receiving his second. This causes chaos as arguments spill over between coaching staff, players, and the match officials.
The Leopards would pile on the pressure for the remainder of extra time, trying to capitalise on the one-man advantage, but the Egyptians would hold on.
Beyond its engaging back-and-forth play, this match unfolded with considerable physicality. There was forty fouls awarded and seven cards handed out including one red.
Full time ends 1-1.
A seemingly endless shootout then ensued.
Mostafa Mohamed, despite scoring Egypt’s only goal in the match from the spot would miss Egypt’s second penalty, sending it wide. Then straight away Masuaku smashes the DRC’s second penalty over the bar levelling it up yet again.
It would come down to the two keepers to decide the fate of their nations progression in the tournament.
It was 7-7 in the shootout as Egypt’s goalkeeper, Mohamed Abou Gabal, who had stepped in for the injured Mohamed El-Shenawy, did a slow run-up before blasting his penalty against the crossbar.
The Leopard’s goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi then confidently put away his penalty to send the DR Congo through.
What happen’s now for the DR Congo?
The Congolese are to face Guinea in the quarter-finals.
The last time the Leopards beat Egypt in AFCON was in 1974. They went on to win it that year.
Feature image credit: Ben Sutherland
