Argentina snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on Tuesday, overturning a one-goal deficit in the final minutes to edge past Egypt 2-1. The result keeps the Albiceleste’s tournament ambitions alive while leaving the Pharaohs heartbroken after a resilient defensive display.
Egypt drew first blood in the 34th minute. Mohamed Salah capitalized on a lapse in the Argentine midfield, threading a clinical pass to Mostafa Mohamed, who buried the ball into the bottom corner. The goal silenced the Argentine contingent in the stands and forced Lionel Scaloni’s side to chase the game for the better part of an hour.
For 80 minutes, the Egyptian backline stood firm. Goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy frustrated Argentina’s attackers, parrying away a blistering strike from Lautaro Martínez and intercepting a series of desperate crosses. Egypt looked poised to pull off the shock of the tournament, relying on a compact low block that stifled Argentina’s rhythm.
The tide turned in the 84th minute. A tactical shift brought Julian Álvarez into the mix, and he immediately injected pace into the final third. Moments later, a surging run from Enzo Fernández forced a foul just outside the penalty area. Lionel Messi stood over the ball, curling a trademark free-kick into the top corner to level the score.
The momentum shift proved fatal for Egypt. With the defense reeling, Argentina pressed high, winning the ball back in the dying seconds of stoppage time. Alexis Mac Allister found space on the edge of the box, slipping a pass to Martínez, who tapped home the winner in the 94th minute.
“We knew they would make it difficult,” said Messi after the final whistle. “They defended with everything they had, but we stayed patient. That’s what this tournament demands.”
Egypt’s manager, Rui Vitória, cut a frustrated figure on the touchline, visibly disappointed by the late collapse. His side had played a disciplined tactical game, yet failed to manage the closing stages of the match.
Argentina now sits in a strong position to advance from the group, while Egypt faces a must-win scenario in their final fixture. The result serves as a stark reminder: in this tournament, no lead is safe until the final whistle blows.
