Dramatic late goals from Moustafa Shaaban and Mohamed Gamal saw Egypt get past Mexico 6-5 in extra time to head into the Huawei Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup fifth-place play-off.
In what was a thrilling contest to kick off the penultimate day of the tournament, Mexico led 5-4 going into the final four minutes of normal time.
However, Shika levelled to take the game into a fourth frame before M. Gamal won the game for Egypt, leaving Mexico to battle it our for seventh against either the UAE or Paraguay.
Lugiani Gallardo’s penalty put Mexico in front before a smart volley from Jose Vizcarra into the bottom left corner doubled the advantage midway through the first frame.
Egypt steeled themselves and proved more threatening as the period went on but fell further behind when Jose Maldonado extended the lead in acrobatic fashion.
A quickfire brace from Hassan Ahmed gave Egypt a way back into the contest midway through the second period although Mexico remained dangerous as David Rodriguez volleyed past Mohamed Seddik.
Twenty-five seconds before the second interval, A. Hassan reduced the deficit to one with a thumping right-foot finish, which made for a tense finale as both sides sought to book their place in the play-off for fifth.
Momentum swung back in Egypt’s direction when Hassane Hussein equalised six minutes from time but Vizcarra responded by rattling in his second off the post.
However, with 22 seconds remaining, Shika grabbed a crucial equaliser to set up extra time before Gamal popped up in the final minute of extra time to win it for his side.
Goals: 0-1: Gallardo, min. 10 (1); 0-2: Vizcarra, min. 7 (1); 0-3: Maldonado, min. 2 (1); 1-3: A. Hassan, min. 7 (2); 2-3: A. Hassan, min. 6 (2); 2-4: Rodriguez, min. 3 (2); 3-4: A. Hassan, min. 0 (2); 4-4: Hassan, min. 6 (3); 4-5: Vizcarra, min. 4 (3); 5-5: Shika, min. 0 (3); 6-5: M. Gamal, min. 1 (extra-time)
