Portugal 2-1 Egypt
It was billed as the football betting face-off between the number one player in the world and a rival who aspires to be on that level.
Of course, if Mohamed Salah continues to perform consistently in football games as he has this season, the Egyptian will safely join that elite company.
This, in the Letzigrund Stadion in Switzerland against the European champions, wasn’t a bad way to continue to make your mark.
Salah’s 56th-minute finish, a left-footed shot from outside the box, was another example of impeccable timing to lay down a marker and continue his incredible goalscoring run for both club and country.
What an accolade it will be for the current leader of the Golden Shoe if the heartbeat of the national team can arrive at the World Cup with that title secured.
Then again, perhaps national team boss Hector Cuper does not want that for he has already been irritated at suggestions last autumn that the Pharaohs are over-reliant on their diminutive frontman. He hopes they can surprise opponents this summer in their first World Cup appearance for 28 years.
Salah left the fray 11 minutes from time as Portugal pressed for an equaliser but were unable to pose a real threat until the man most footballers aspire to be, Cristiano Ronaldo, showed Salah and Co why he is the world’s number one.
First with an injury-time header and then an even later finish to win the match.
This was as last-gasp as it gets!
Based on this performance, Egypt have no reason to fear hosts Russia, Uruguay or Saudi Arabia in three months time.
After swapping Cairo for the frost and freeze of Switzerland, it’s Greece next for the seven-time African champions who view this spring stretch in Zurich as vital preparation for the tournament.
This wasn’t an ideal start, but the consolation for Egypt is they won’t come up against Ronaldo every day!
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