Volgograd: Essam El Hadary, the oldest player ever to appear at a World Cup, marked his record achievement with one outstanding penalty save for Egypt but was powerless to stop a second in a 2-1 defeat by Saudi Arabia here Monday.
The 45-year-old goalkeeper flew to his right to make a spectacular stop in the 39th minute from Fahad Al-Muwallad’s spot-kick, awarded for handball, at the Volgograd Arena.
El Hadary smashed the age record set by Colombia goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon, who was aged 43 years and three days when he played against Japan in Brazil in 2014.
But Saudi Arabia scored deep into added on time time in both halves, with Salem Al-Dawsari’s last-gasp winner securing their first World Cup victory since a run to the last 16 in 1994.
Mohamed Salah’s had earlier opened the scoring for Egypt, but that failed to inspire them and they have not recorded a World Cup finals win in three appearances.
Salah was named in the starting line-up as expected and thrilled an Egyptian-dominated crowd of 36,823 by opening the scoring in trademark fashion after 22 minutes.
The 26-year-old controlled a long ball over the top with one touch of his left boot at pace and did not break stride before lobbing a deft finish with the same foot over the onrushing goalkeeper Yasser Al-Mosailem. It was the first goal from open play for Egypt since 1934.
Saudi Arabians were then awarded a second penalty and Salman Al-Faraj took responsibilty from 12 yards and to beat the Egyptian goalkeeper.
The Pharoahs captain El Hadary lived up to his nickname of ‘High Dam’ with two stunning saves from headers in the second half. But in the fifth minute of second half injury-time, Al-Dawsari popped up in the box to beat El Hadary with the last kick of the match and secure a famous Saudi win.
