Egypt Advances to African Cup Semifinals

Morocco's forward Munir el Haddadi (L) fights for the ball with Egypt's midfielder Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' Hassan during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 quarter-final football match between Egypt and Morocco at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde on January 30, 2022. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)
Morocco's forward Munir el Haddadi (L) fights for the ball with Egypt's midfielder Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' Hassan during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 quarter-final football match between Egypt and Morocco at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde on January 30, 2022. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)
TT
20

Egypt Advances to African Cup Semifinals

Morocco's forward Munir el Haddadi (L) fights for the ball with Egypt's midfielder Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' Hassan during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 quarter-final football match between Egypt and Morocco at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde on January 30, 2022. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)
Morocco's forward Munir el Haddadi (L) fights for the ball with Egypt's midfielder Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' Hassan during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 quarter-final football match between Egypt and Morocco at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde on January 30, 2022. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

Mohamed Salah scored the equalizer and created the winner to inspire Egypt's comeback on Sunday to beat Morocco 2-1 after extra time and reach the African Cup semifinals.

Egypt fell behind to an early penalty won by Achraf Hakimi and converted by Sofiane Boufal in the seventh minute.

Egypt captain Salah reacted quickly to knock in a rebound to make it 1-1 in the 53rd and sent in a perfect low cross for Trézéguet to tap in near the end of the first half of extra time.

Egypt was left to rely on third-choice goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhy for most of extra time after an injury to Mohamed Abou Gabal, who was already in the team in place of first choice Mohamed el-Shenawy.

Abou Gabal was injured in normal time but tried to play through it. He couldn't and had to come off in the sixth minute of extra time, leaving the 22-year-old Sobhy to make his debut for his country at the end of a high-pressure game.

In the end he wasn't tested and Salah and Trézéguet combined for the winner four minutes after Sobhy came on. Salah was faced with three defenders covering him on the right wing but he went for the outside and sent a right-foot cross into the path of Trézéguet at the back post.

Salah almost had a second in the final, chaotic moments when Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou joined an attack in the desperate search for an equalizer and left the Moroccan goal unguarded.

Egypt broke and Salah chased down a through ball but couldn't force it into the empty net from a tight angle.

It didn't matter. Full time came about a minute later and Egypt went through to a semifinal against host Cameroon, which is a repeat of the 2017 African Cup final that was won by Cameroon.

Egypt hasn't won the African Cup since its record-extending seventh title in 2010. Salah made his debut for the national team the year after that triumph and is still searching for a first major title with his country.



Guler Strike Maintains Real Madrid's Flickering Title Hopes

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Getafe v Real Madrid - Estadio Coliseum, Getafe, Spain - April 23, 2025 Real Madrid's Arda Guler in action with Getafe's Mauro Arambarri REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Getafe v Real Madrid - Estadio Coliseum, Getafe, Spain - April 23, 2025 Real Madrid's Arda Guler in action with Getafe's Mauro Arambarri REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
TT
20

Guler Strike Maintains Real Madrid's Flickering Title Hopes

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Getafe v Real Madrid - Estadio Coliseum, Getafe, Spain - April 23, 2025 Real Madrid's Arda Guler in action with Getafe's Mauro Arambarri REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Getafe v Real Madrid - Estadio Coliseum, Getafe, Spain - April 23, 2025 Real Madrid's Arda Guler in action with Getafe's Mauro Arambarri REUTERS/Isabel Infantes

Arda Guler's cultured first-half strike earned Real Madrid a nervy 1-0 win at Getafe on Wednesday that kept their LaLiga title hopes alive and left them four points behind leaders Barcelona with five matches remaining.

After Barca extended their lead with a 1-0 victory over Mallorca on Tuesday, Carlo Ancelotti's men secured three precious points thanks to the Türkiye midfielder's fine 20th-minute effort from the edge of the box.

Ancelotti decided to rest several key players ahead of Saturday's Copa del Rey final against rivals Barca, but Real still dominated proceedings.

They failed to capitalise on numerous opportunities to extend their lead, however, which resulted in a tense finish to the encounter, with Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois producing two brilliant saves in added time to secure their win, Reuters reported.

The victory moved them up to 72 points in second place, nine ahead of third-placed Atletico Madrid who have a game in hand and take on Rayo Vallecano on Thursday.

With forward Kylian Mbappe out with an ankle injury he sustained in their Champions League quarter-final loss to Arsenal, Ancelotti also opted to start with Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Luka Modric, Antonio Ruediger and Eduardo Camavinga on the bench.

Despite the changes, Madrid put in a solid display, although they found it difficult to break down Getafe's well-drilled, five-man defense after Guler's opener.

Vinicius Jr, operating down the left flank, caused problems for Getafe's defense and he was denied twice by goalkeeper David Soria. He also set up 18-year-old striker Endrick in the 32nd minute, only for defender Djene to make a heroic clearance on the goal-line.

Real continued to control the game after the break, with Soria making impressive saves to deny a curling effort from Brahim Diaz and a potent strike from Vinicius.

As Real started to tire, Getafe began to pose a threat on the counter and Mauro Arambarri squandered a golden opportunity in the 72nd minute, mishitting his shot from close range after being set up perfectly by Borja Mayoral.

This traditional sport is taking the spotlight in Madagascar’s capital of Antananarivo.00:0501:22

As Real pressed for a second goal in the dying moments, they were vulnerable to counter-attacks and Courtois made two fantastic saves from Omar Alderete and Juanmi to preserve Real's lead.

It was the first time in a month that Real had managed back-to-back victories in all competitions and Ancelotti will be hoping his side can carry the momentum into the Copa del Rey final.