World Cup: Mohamed Salah's pain and brief joy as Egypt beaten by Russia - in pictures

Liverpool forward scored penalty on comeback but Egypt are all but out of competition

Egypt's Mohamed Salah scores their first goal from the penalty spot. Dylan Martinez / Reuters

Mohamed Salah of Egypt kisses the ball before scoring from the penalty spot during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group A match between Russia and Egypt at Saint Petersburg Stadium. Francois Nel / Getty Images

Mohamed Salah scores the penalty. Anatoly Maltsev / EPA

Mohamed Salah scores from a penalty during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round match between Russia and Egypt. Etienne Laurent / EPA

Egypt's Mohamed Salah prays on the ground after scoring a penalty during the group A match between Russia and Egypt. Martin Meissner / AP Photo

Mohamed Salah reacts after scoring against Russia. Georgi Licovski / EPA

Egypt fans with a banner in reference to Mohamed Salah before the match. Dylan Martinez / Reuters

Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring Egypt's first goal with team mates. Lee Smith / Reuters

Mohamed Salah shoots at goal against Russia. Lee Smith / Reuters

Russia's Sergei Ignashevich, right, challenges for the ball Egypt's Mohamed Salah, left, during the group A match between Russia and Egypt at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the St. Petersburg stadium in St. Petersburg. Gregorio Borgia / AP Photo

epa06822838 Egyptian fans react as they watch the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round match between Egypt and Russia in downtown Cairo. Mohamed Hossam / EPA

Mohamed Salah reacts after being fouled in the penalty area. Georgi Licovski / EPA

Mohamed Salah looks dejected as Russia players celebrate their first goal. Lee Smith / Reuters

Egypt's Mohamed Salah looks dejected after the match. Lee Smith / Reuters

Egypt's Mohamed Salah looks dejected after the defeat to Russia. Lee Smith / Reuters

Egypt's Mohamed Salah leaves the pitch without going to his fans, disappointed after losing the group A match between Russia and Egypt. Martin Meissner / AP Photo

Mohamed Salah leaves the pitch after defeat to Russia. Mahmoud Khaled / EPA

The dejection was written all over Mohamed Salah's face as he trudged off the pitch at the St Petersburg Stadium.

Not even he could stop Egypt slipping towards the brink of World Cup exit after they were beaten 3-1 by Russia on Tuesday night.

After weeks of questions over whether he would make it on to the pitch at the tournament due to the shoulder injury suffered in the Uefa Champions League final, Salah gave his nation hope as he was declared fit enough to start after having sat out the opening group game defeat to Uruguay.

But that hope was crushed in the second half as Russia went 3-0 up before Salah was able to make his mark with a consolation from the penalty spot, which made him only the third Egyptian to score at a World Cup.

Egypt now need a footballing miracle to qualify for the next stage, with Saudi Arabia facing Uruguay later on Wednesday.

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