Muscat: Hosts Qatar beat Egypt 5-4 on penalties in the game to decide third place at the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup.
Striker Mohamed Sherif and defender Ahmed Hegazi were the unlucky players who missed from the spot for the Pharaohs, one of Africa’s best-ranked sides, as five Qatari players scored from the spot, following Hassan Al Haydos’ opening miss.
The game, which was played at Stadium 974 in the Qatar capital, Doha, ended goalless after neither team could take the lead in either regulation or extra time.
Qatar’s win sees them add to their celebrations of the country’s National Day, which falls on 18 December.
It was late substitute Mohamed Afsha who scored the first penalty of the shootout, putting Egypt ahead after Al Haydos missed the first kick for Qatar, only for Boualem Khoukhi to equalize seconds later.
Amro Elsoulia went next, and his successful conversion was met in response by Abdelkarim Hassan. With the scores tied at 2-2, towering defender Ahmed Hegazy went next, only to see his spot kick saved. There would be no blushes however, for Ahmed Alaaeldin, who held steady to put Qatar 3-2 up from the spot.
Ahmed Fatouh drew Egypt level to give the African side renewed hope, but Qatar went ahead once again, after Akram Afif also scored from the spot. Akram Tawfik’s penalty continued to keep Egypt in the game, but Karim made no mistake for the hosts as he wrapped up the win with the final spot kick.
