ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — With Australia about to head to a shootout at the World Cup, coach Tony Popovic made a switch in net late during extra time, going with an experienced goalkeeper over the tournament first-timer who had already made some key stops.Then, after Egypt made its first three shots in the shootout, Popovic sent out 18-year-old defender Lucas Herrington for a much-needed kick.Neither of those moves worked out for the Socceroos in the round of 32. Egypt beat Australia 4-2 on penalty kicks after they had played to a 1-1 draw Friday.Herrington’s miss set up the game-deciding goal by Hossam Abdelmaguid. Mathew Ryan, the keeper in his 105th international appearance for Australia, didn’t stop any of Egypt’s four shots after replacing starter Patrick Beach.“I’m sure you’d be saying something else if the young kid scored. You’d probably be sitting there saying how wonderful it is that an 18-year-old took the penalty and scored,” Popovic responded when asked about that decision. “I trust him to play in a game that we needed to get a result against Paraguay, and a game where elimination was on the line. What’s the difference with a penalty?”
As for the late keeper switch, the 34-year-old Ryan came in despite several strong saves from the 22-year-old Beach, who was playing in only his sixth game for Australia. Beach made a sprawling save on a header in the waning moments of regulation, and seconds later had a much easier stop on a shot by Mohamed Salah.
