The oldest player in World Cup history, Essam El Hadary, made a superb save in the first-half of Egypt’s final group game with Saudi Arabia on Monday.
Egypt have never won a game at the World Cup but they could still be in line for a maiden victory at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd if they can defeat Saudi Arabia.
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah gave Egypt the lead with a brilliant chip over goalkeeper Yasser Al-Mosailem before Saudi Arabia were awarded two penalties in quick succession.
Fahad Al-Muwallad missed the first penalty after El Hadary dived correctly to get a hand on the ball and push the Levante forward’s shot onto the crossbar.
It was a fantastic save from El Hadary, who at the age of 45, makes his finals debut in Volgograd.
GOAL Saudi Arabia #KSA 1-1 #EGY
45+6mins Ahmed Fathi converts the penalty for Saudi Arabia to level matters on the stroke of half-time.#RTEsoccer
Watch live: https://t.co/wJ3pY1F41H pic.twitter.com/pg7sJcXBqx
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 25, 2018
However, the Al-Taawoun goalkeeper could not reproduce his heroics minutes later when Ahmed Fathi sent him the wrong way to score Saudi Arabia’s first goal at this year’s World Cup.
