Egypt sealed their place in the semi-finals of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory over Paraguay.
Ibrahim Adel continued his heroics in the French capital to level for the African giants in the 87th-minute to send the tie to extra-time after Diego Gomez had given the South Americans the lead. Adel then dispatched the winning spot-kick to emerge the hero, Eurosport reported.
Ibrahim Adel was Egypt’s saviour in a tense Olympic Games quarter-final with Paraguay in boiling Marseille as he struck a late equalizer for his side in normal time before converting the winner in a penalty shoot-out.
Paraguay had shipped seven goals in the group stage, but produced an uncompromising defensive display against Rogerio Micale’s team and struck a fine opener on 71 minutes when Diego Gómez smashed a fine finish low into the net.
They seemed destined to secure progress to the last four until Adel popped up on 88 minutes for the Pharaohs when he emerged unmarked to head home from Zizo’s pinpoint cross.
Extra-time was a non-event amid tiring limbs and minds, but Egypt had the final say as Marcelo Pérez – the only player who failed to convert from the spot – saw his penalty brilliantly saved by Hamza Alaa before Adel converted the winning kick to give his side a 5-4 shoot-out victory.
Scenes of jubilation greeted Adel from his country’s fans with Egypt progressing to a last-four meeting with hosts France or Argentina in Lyon on Monday evening.
Morocco meet Spain in the other men’s semi-final in Marseille earlier on Monday.
