Unlucky Egypt suffer narrow defeat to Uruguay

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Friday Jun 15, 2018. 16:22

Egypt kicked off their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group A campaign with a 1-0 loss to Uruguay at the Yekaterinburg Arena in Russia on Friday, June 15.

As a result, the Sky Blue are placed second on the Group A standings, while the Pharaohs are placed third on the table.

Uruguay started the game well and they threatened first through Paris Saint Germain (PSG) striker Edinson Cavani, who scooped the 2017/18 French Ligue 1 Golden Boot winner.

The lanky marksman forced Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy into a good low save from the edge of the Egypt box just seven minutes into the game.

The Pharaohs were also able to register a shot on target through Trezeguet following a good move by the African side in the 11th minute.

However, Egypt-based Mohsen's effort lacked power and Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera made a comfortable save as the two teams searched for an early goal.

The two teams then struggled to create clear-cut chances and they resorted to taking shorts from range which could not seriously test Muslera and his counterpart El-Shenawy.

Egypt forward Marwan Mohsen and Uruguay winger Nahitan Nandez both saw their long-range efforts from range easily saved with the half-time break approaching.

The two teams were locked at 0-0 at the interval.

Egypt did most of the defending in the opening stages of the second-half and they came very close to conceding after their defence was exposed.

Cavani combined with Lusi Suarez, whose goal-bound shot was well-saved by El-Shenaway a minute into the second-half.

Ahmed Hegazy and Aly Gabr, the two Egypt central defenders, then tightly marked Cavani, and Suarez, who were frustrated by the Pharaohs backline.

Ahmed Fathi was able to push forward from the right-back position in the 70th minute and he forced Muslera into a top diving save as Egypt looked to break the deadlock.

The momentum was with Uruguay in the latter stages of the game and Cavani watched on in disbelief as his well-taken shot was brilliantly saved by El-Shenawy in the 82nd minute.

The Sky Blue's pressure finally paid off in the 89th minute when Jose Gimenez scored with a header to hand Uruguay a 1-0 late win.

Egypt (0) 0

Uruguay (0) 1 (Gimenez 89')

Egypt: El-Shenawy, Al Gabr, Hegazy, Fathi, Abdelshafy, Hamed (Morsey 50'), Elneny, Abdalla, Trezeguet, Mohsen (Kahraba 63'), Warda (Sobhi 82').

Uruguay: Muslera, Gimenez, Godin, Varela, Caceres, Bentancur, Nandez (C.Sanchez 58'), Vecino (Torreira 89'), Suarez, De Arrascaeta (C.Rodriguez 59'), Cavani