Egypt advance to Tokyo Olympics quarter-finals after vital win over Australia

Goals from Ahmed Yasser Rayan and Amar Hamdy end Olyroos' campaign on Wednesday

Ahmed Hegazy of Team Egypt celebrates with Ramadan Sobhi and Taher Mohamed after victory in the men's Group C match against Australia at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Miyagi Stadium on July 28, 2021.

Shawky Gharieb, head coach of Team Egypt, celebrates victory over Australia at the Miyagi Stadium.

Nasser Mansy of Team Egypt is thrown in the air by teammates following victory against Australia at the Tokyo Olympics.

Karim Eraky of Egypt in action with Caleb Watts of Australia. Reuters

Egypt's Taher Mohamed, left, and teammates Ammar Hamdy, center, and Ibrahim Adel run into the pitch to celebrate their 2-0 victory over Australia.

Egypt's Taher Mohamed, left, and teammates Ammar Hamdy, center, and Ibrahim Adel run into the pitch to celebrate their 2-0 victory over Australia during a men's soccer match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, in Sendai, Japan. (AP Photo / Andre Penner)

Egypt's goalkeeper Mohamed Elshenawy with Australia's midfielder Connor Metcalfe and Egypt's forward Ramadan Sobhi.

Ammar Hamdy of Egypt celebrates scoring their second goal with Ibrahim Adel.

Egypt's Ahmed Hegazy, top, dribbles past Australia's Nicholas D'Agostino.

Ahmed Rayan of Team Egypt vies for the ball with Joel King of Team Australia.

Egypt booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Tokyo Olympics men's football tournament on Wednesday after claiming a 2-0 win over Australia.

Goals from Ahmed Yasser Rayan and Amar Hamdy ensured victory in a must-win game for Egypt. Australia needed only a point to advance from Group C, while their opponents had no choice but to go for victory.

Egypt owed much of their win to a superb second-half performance from goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, who made a number of fine saves to secure a last eight berth.

Meanwhile, defending champions Brazil advanced to the quarter-finals after a 3-1 victory over Saudi Arabia. They topped Group D while Ivory Coast advanced after a 1-1 draw with Germany.

Brazil striker Richarlison, who netted a hat-trick against Germany, headed in to make it 2-1 before scoring away his fifth goal at the Games to seal three points at the Saitama Stadium.

The South Americans took an early lead after forward Matheus Cunha slotted the ball past goalkeeper Amin Albukhari from Claudinho's corner but Saudi Arabia made it 1-1 through defender Abdulelah Alamri's header from a free kick.

Brazil had scored four against Germany but struggled to fire in a goalless draw against Ivory Coast and their lack of consistency was evident.

Guilherme Arana, Diego Carlos and Antony failed to put away first-half chances and Cunha hit the post after the break.

Ivory Coast, meanwhile, went through to the last eight at the expense of Germany, securing a 1-1 draw at the Miyagi Stadium.

The African side took the lead in the 67th minute when Benjamin Henrichs ended up putting the ball into his own net. But substitute Eduard Loewen scored with a free kick six minutes later.

Germany piled on the pressure in the dying stages but Ivory Coast held on.