Egypt: 1 (4) Australia: 1 (2)
Both teams played their game excellently, and it led to another penalty shootout.
Egypt got on the board quickly, left back Karim Hafez sent a ball in and right winger Eman Ashour sent it home, putting the Egyptians up 1-0.
Australia struggled to score all tournament, scoring 2 goals in the first match against Turkiye, but not scoring in the matches after that. They only had 1 shot on target in the entire game, but it wasn’t the goal. It was Egyptians right back Mohamaed Hany whose own goal tied the game at 1.
The game went to extra time tied at 1, where there wasn’t that much excitement, but one important thing happened right at the end. Australia subbed off their goalkeeper Patrick Beach, who had been excellent all tournament for substitute Matthew Ryan, who is known as a penalty specialist.
Australia botched the penalty shootout. The two players that missed were both centre backs, Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington, Herrington just being 18 years old. Not finding anyone better to take a penalty than an 18-year-old who has never taken a professional penalty in his life was poorly planned.
The penalty specialist was not able to save a single penalty from Egypt, and they won the shootout easily. They will play Argentina in the Round of 16
Player of the Match: Emam Ashour (Al Ahly)
Argentina: 3, Cape Verde: 2
What an effort by Cape Verde. If Argentina couldn’t find that third goal, and lost a penalty shootout, it could have been arguably the greatest upset in the history of sports.
All seemed normal at the start, striker Lionel Messi scored, his seventh of the tournament, in the 29th minute. Argentina’s roster is vastly more talented than Cape Verde’s, and they are still the reigning champions.
In the 59th minute, things got weird, and Cape Verde tied the match up. It was attacking midfielder Deroy Duarte who got the goal. Argentina couldn’t find the winner in regular time, so the game between the top ranked team and the 67th ranked team on the FIFA rankings went to extra time.
Centre back Lisandro Martinez had a shot go just above Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha’s head in the 92nd minute, putting them back in front, and likely ending it.
Cape Verde had less than half an hour to find an equalizer, and in miraculous fashion, they did. Left back Sidny Lopes Cabral’s right footed strike curled from one corner of the box to the other corner of the goal, one of the best of the tournament, especially with what was at stake.
Argentina were stunned, but they still found a winner, an own goal from centre back Diney Borges, nothing he could do about it, but still heartbreaking.
Argentina stole the game, but nothing the Cape Verde players can’t hold their heads high about. Vozinha was excellent again, making 8 saves, the most of any game he played in the tournament.
Argentina will play Egypt in the Round of 16.
Player of the Match: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
Colombia: 1, Ghana: 0
Colombia has been quietly one of the best teams at the tournament. They haven’t lost a game yet, and haven’t really come close.
They got the lone goal of the match early, central midfielder Jhon Arias scored it in the 14th minute, and despite not scoring again, they cruised to victory.
Ghana didn’t have a shot on target in the match, and despite being one of the lowest ranked teams in the tournament, they were expected to perform slightly better than this. Another disappointing Round of 32 result for Africa, who are down to just two teams after starting with nine.
Colombia will play Switzerland in the Round of 16, with all of the Round of 32 games completed.
Player of the Match: Jhon Arias (Palmeiras)