Egypt conceded two penalties, including a highly-controversial first one, to lose 2-1 to Argentina and wave goodbye to the U-20 World Cup from the round of 16. Roma midfielder Erik Lamela hit two successful penalties to secure the victory as Mohamed Salah replied with another spot kick for Egypt. Argentina, who registered their fourth victory over Egypt in the U-20 World Cup history, go through to the quarter-finals to face Portugal who beat Guatemala 1-0. Controversial lead The first half was evenly-balanced and Egypt could have taken the lead through Omar Gaber, but the Zamalek starlet was too slow to apply the finish when through on goal. Mohamed Al-Nenni had a freekick saved by Argentina keeper Esteban Andrada before the South Americans took an undeserved lead on 41 minutes. Carlos Luque charged from the left with Salah in pursuit, before the Argentina midfielder fell to the ground awkwardly, only for Swedish referee Markus Strombergsson to point to the spot.
Salah's penalty not enough Lamela's venom-less penalty was almost saved by Mohamed Al-Shennawi, but the Egypt goalie couldn't handle the well-placed shot. Two more penalties Egypt took a stranglehold on the game after the break but the six-time champions were too resilient at the back, while relying on the pace of their forwards on the counter. In the 63rd minute, Egypt were punished by another penalty, but this Gaber was to blame for conceding an unnecessary foul inside the area, allowing Luque to go to the ground theatrically once again. Lamela made no mistake from the spot again, this time sending Al-Shennawi the wrong way. Egypt did not surrender and were awarded a penalty on 70 minutes when Adrian Martinez felled substitute Saleh Gomaa inside the box, giving Salah the opportunity to pull one back for the Africans. Astonishingly, Egypt coach Diaa Al-Sayed took Gomaa off shortly after the goal, only 13 minutes after the ENPPI midfielder had come off the bench. Egypt's dominance continued and Mohamed Hamdi's long-range effort was brilliantly parried by Andrada, while Argentina substitute Juan Iturbe could have scored a hat-trick at the other end with his blistering pace. Egypt's final chance for a dramatic equalizer came in the third minute of injury time when defender Ahmed Hegazi superbly jumped above the keeper's hands to head in, but the ball was cleared off the line in agonizing fashion.
