Egypt's anti-drug body launches new awareness phase in Maspero Triangle    Agiba Petroleum starts production from Arcadia-28 at 4,100 BOE/day    Minister El-Shimy pushes for stronger returns, partnerships in real estate, construction sectors    Apparel, textile chambers engage with Chinese delegation to explore investment opportunities in Egypt    Egypt reviews health insurance funding mechanism to ensure long-term sustainability    Obama calls for aid access to Gaza, says 'no justification' for withholding food    Gaza on verge of famine as war escalates, ceasefire talks stall    Gaza crisis, trade on agenda as Trump hosts Starmer in Scotland    Egyptian president follows up on initiatives to counter extremist thought    Egypt's SCZONE eyes deeper investment, port digitalisation ties with Singapore    Egypt's gold prices slip slightly on July 28th    Egypt's Housing Min. reviews HDP marketing plan    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Sudan's ambassador to Egypt holds reconstruction talks on with Arab League    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Egypt welcomes 25-nation statement urging end to Gaza war    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt foils terrorist plot, kills two militants linked to Hasm group    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Legendary keeper Hadary lifts Egypt to final after shootout win
Published in Ahram Online on 03 - 02 - 2018

Veteran goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary set a new record and saved two spot kicks as record winners Egypt rode their luck to reach the African Cup of Nations final with a 4-3 shootout win over a superb Burkina Faso side after a 1-1 draw on Wednesday.
The 44-year-old, still defying his age, produced two brilliant one-handed saves to block penalties from his Burkina counterpart Herve Koffi and Ajax Amsterdam's on-loan forward Bertrand Traore.
Egypt fell behind in the shootout when their first effort from Abdallah El-Said was denied by the post after Koffi got a hand to it, but Hadary recalled memories of the 2006 final shootout victory over the Ivory Coast, when he was also Egypt's hero after blocking two penalties from Didier Drogba and Bakari Kone, to lift his team to the Nations Cup final.
The Pharaohs, who have seven titles under their belt, lost once in six final appearances in the Nations Cup - a defeat by Ethiopia in 1962.
They will face either Ghana or Cameroon who clash in the other semi-final game on Thursday.
Hadary, who plays for Wadi Degla in the Egyptian Premier League, also set a record for the longest run without conceding a goal in the Nations Cup, keeping a clean sheet for 675 minutes to surpass former Cameroon keeper Alioum Boukar (643 minutes).
He also became the oldest player to appear in the tournament when he replaced Ahmed El-Shennawi in the opening 0-0 draw with Mali after the Zamalek keeper sustained an injury.
Egypt scored against the run of play five minutes past the hour mark when Mohamed Salah's delightful curling shot left Koffi with no chance but leaked their first goal of the tournament when Aristide Bance made the most of a defensive lapse to restore parity a few minutes later.
Burkina Faso were the livelier side but faced stiff resistance from Hadary and his dogged defence as Egypt remained unbeaten in eight matches against the Stallions.
Typical fashion
In typical fashion, Egypt sat back to soak up pressure as Burkina pushed forward in the early stages, trying to exploit any gaps in a watertight defence.
Zamalek's Ibrahim Salah, who made his first start to take Mohamed Elneny's place in the heart of midfield, struggled to confront a wave of Burkinabe attacks although clear-cut chances were scarce at both ends.
Burkina focused on finding spaces on the left flank, where Egypt's right-back Ahmed Elmohamady was barely given any defensive support from Mohamed Salah.
Lone striker Mahmoud Kahraba, who replaced injured duo Marwan Mohsen and Ahmed Kouka, was hardly fed as Egypt's deep-lying forwards repeatedly drifted back to close down spaces when Burkina had possession.
Egypt's Hadary palmed away a shot from Blati Toure after eight minutes, making up for a rare error that saw him push a tame cross into the path of the Cyprus-based midfielder.
At the other end, Egypt went close when left winger Mahmoud Trezeguet cut inside to fire a curling shot that narrowly missed the target from the edge of the area.
Kahraba's bouncing shot was also thwarted by keeper Herve Koffi shortly before the break but Burkina put Egypt under relentless pressure in the second half, laying siege to their area.
Prejuce Nakoulma caused Egypt's defenders all sorts of problems with his darting runs down both flanks but Hadary was on alert to clear numerous crosses.
But for all Burkina's dominance, Egypt scored from a rare foray forward following an intricate passing move on 65 minutes, with Kahraba laying off the ball to Salah on the edge of the area to curl a left-footer into the top corner of the net.
Celebrations were short-lived, however, as Bance neatly controlled a Razack Traore that eluded the disappointing Ibrahim Salah to fire in a first-timer in the 73rd minute.
Egypt survived a barrage of attacks in the dying minutes, with Hadary the rescuer on several occasions, as the match went into extra time where both sides looked jaded, struggling to string passes together.
All the action came in the shootout, with former Ahly and Zamalek guardian Hadary denying Koffi and Burkina's fifth spot kick from Traore to spark wild celebrations on the pitch.


Clic here to read the story from its source.