Egypt lost to World Cup hosts Russia on Tuesday, minimising the The Pharaohs' chances of reaching the knockout stages.
The Russians kept up their free-scoring ways to move to the brink of a second round place with a 3-1 win at the Saint Petersburg Stadium on Tuesday.
Egyptian talisman Mohamed Salah, playing for the first time since injuring his shoulder in last month's Champions League final, scored Egypt's first World Cup goal in 28 years from a 73rd minute penalty awarded after a review by the video assistant referee.
Salah's goal cut the deficit to 3-1, but it wasn't enough to spark an Egyptian comeback.
Mo Salah pulls one back for Egypt!
Is there enough time for a comeback?? pic.twitter.com/HOIPd5Zzxh
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 19, 2018
Russia's place in the knockout stages will be secured on Wednesday if Uruguay avoid defeat against Saudi Arabia in the next Group A game.
Hector Cuper's side looked confident given the return of Salah, but the forward was short of full sharpness and made little impact in what was a tight first half.
Egypt's Ahmed Fathi put the ball into his own net two minutes after halftime.
Remarkably, it was the fifth own goal of the tournament so far. The record amount for a tournament is six in 1998.
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It was followed by two goals in a three-minute spell from Denis Cheryshev and Artem Dzyuba around the hour mark as Russia took their tournament goal tally to eight in two games.
Egypt still have a slender chance of proceeding to the next round if Saudi Arabia beat Uruguay on Wednesday. They then would have to beat the Saudis and hope that Uruguay lose to Russia in the final round. Even then, they would need a higher goal differential than Saudi Arabia and Uruguay to qualify as second in the group.
Me watching the game #EgyptVsRussia #مصر_وروسيا pic.twitter.com/80zs7PKSSm
— Beautiful Mess (@ItsASickSociety) June 19, 2018
"We had a good first half then we had 10-15 really bad minutes and that's why we lost," said Cuper, who immediately faced questions over his future.
"Whether I should stay or not does not depend on me and we still have another match. In a World Cup you have to wait till the very last minute," he added after the game.
With Egypt's loss, Arab teams are left with zero points from five games. Saudi Arabia lost its opening game to Russia 5-0. Tunisia lost 2-1 to England on Wednesday after an injury time header from Harry Kane. Morocco was beaten by Iran from a late own goal, and Egypt lost its opener 1-0 to Uruguay, also by a late header.
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