2025 U17 World Cup: Egypt battle back to earn vital draw against Venezuela 

Egypt fought back to secure a 1-1 draw against Venezuela in their second Group E match at the U17 World Cup in Doha on Friday, keeping their hopes alive in a tightly contested group.

The match, played on Pitch 7 of the Aspire Zone, saw Venezuela take an early lead through captain Marcos Maitan in the 18th minute before Hamza Abdelkarim restored parity for the Pharaohs shortly after the break.

Despite being reduced to ten men following Mohamed Hamad’s red card in the 60th minute, Egypt held firm to claim an important point.

The first half proved difficult for the North Africans, who struggled to contain Venezuela’s attacking play after a bright opening spell.

Maitan’s opener came from a well-worked corner, capitalising on Egypt’s defensive lapse.

The Vinotinto continued to dominate possession, forcing Egypt’s goalkeeper Omar Abdelaziz into several crucial saves in the 26th, 37th, and 43rd minutes to keep his team within reach.

Egypt showed flashes of promise going forward, with Abdelkarim testing Venezuelan goalkeeper Alan Vazquez in the 15th minute and Hamad threatening again five minutes later.

However, the South Americans’ compact defence proved difficult to breach before the interval.

After the restart, Egypt emerged with renewed determination and found their breakthrough in the 53rd minute when Abdelkarim converted from close range following a well-executed attack.

The equaliser shifted the momentum in Egypt’s favour, even as Hamad’s dismissal left them a player short for the final half-hour.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Egypt’s defence — marshalled by Degawy, Ashraf, and Farid Marco Libra — stood resilient.

Venezuela pressed for a winner through Juan Uribe and Diego Claut, but Egypt’s backline and goalkeeper Abdelaziz ensured the scoreline remained level until the final whistle.

The result leaves both teams on four points after two matches, while England’s emphatic victory over Haiti brings them back into contention with three points.

The final round of fixtures in Group E now promises to be decisive, with qualification still wide open.

For Egypt, the draw represents a hard-earned reward after a challenging contest that tested their resolve and discipline.

Their ability to recover from a difficult first half and withstand pressure with ten men underlines the team’s growing maturity in the tournament’s closing stages.