Wasteful Spain held to goalless draw by 10-man Egypt in friendly clash

[p]As both sides lined up for one of their final outings before the World Cup kicks off, many in their ranks were eager to impress.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/porro-pedro/nTebDzHC/"]Pedro Porro[/a] saw a powerful drive blocked inside the first minute, before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/egypt/bejDn7NN/"]Egypt[/a] went straight up the other end and almost caught out [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/raya-david/nkVV0IXb/"]David Raya[/a] with an arrow from distance by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mohanad-lasheen/U7m2BFH2/"]Mohanad Lasheen[/a].[/p][p]A couple of further chances soon went the way of the hosts – who were forced to move this match from Qatar to the Barcelonian outskirts at the last minute – but some flying defensive challenges prevented [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/oufa-shobeir/0vgRIJk9/"]Shobeir[/a] from having too much to deal with.[/p][p]The sides were surprisingly even in chances and possession after that, but there was no denying that Egypt had the best chance of the half.[/p][image alt="Match stats" id="652d7e31-ef3b-4478-abca-2e11cad2e870" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="0ec278c0-97f9-4d66-abbb-e60ec52345c7" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]Starring in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/salah-mohamed/08FBycgB/"]Mohamed Salah[/a]’s absence, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/marmoush-omar/44pYRYIC/"]Omar Marmoush[/a] wriggled away from some challenges on the edge of the area, before turning and firing back across goal, only to see his strike thump against the base of the post.[/p][p]A goal there wouldn’t have been undeserved for the hardworking visitors, who showed their valiance again just before the break when Hamdy Fathy slid in to deny [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/torres-ferran/AVAVLaLt/"]Ferran Torres[/a] a simple tap-in.[/p][p]A host of attacking changes at half time made [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a] look immediately stronger, but Egypt’s man between the sticks wasn’t willing to yield. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fermin/2c2ipETG/"]Fermín López[/a] received it on the edge of the area and worked his way through the box, only for Shobeir to touch his eventual shot a whisker wide.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pedri/baBG8QuI/"]Pedri[/a] was also then kept out on two occasions, before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mosquera-cristhian/4O15XViB/"]Cristhian Mosquera[/a] headed just over from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/olmo-dani/2oVBOlPg/"]Dani Olmo[/a]’s cross.[/p][p][b]Spain’s chances of stealing the win were given a boost late on though, as Fathy fouled [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/iglesias-borja/0vQciH42/"]Borja Iglesias[/a] and then sarcastically applauded the referee, leading to a second red card.[/b][/p][image alt="Fathy was sent off for Egypt" id="632b7021-b1e5-43d2-b366-6e5afe9dc010" credit-line="REUTERS / Albert Gea" guid="29af224d-c69b-4409-9d3c-7f8cf9b69173" original-width="3610" original-height="2406" /][p]There was still time for Shobeir to pull out another save in tipping [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/grimaldo-alex/6cAIrW5Q/"]Alejandro Grimaldo[/a]’s free-kick onto the bar, sealing the stalemate.[/p][p]The result extends Spain’s unbeaten run to a remarkable 28 matches, though they will have to improve their levels if they are to do better than their exits before the quarter-finals in each of the last three tournaments.[/p][p]Egypt, meanwhile, will be merely looking for a first-ever World Cup victory on just their second appearance at the finals since 1990.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/oufa-shobeir/0vgRIJk9/"]Mostafa Shobeir[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/egypt/bejDn7NN/"]Egypt[/a])[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/egypt-bejDn7NN/spain-bLyo6mco/?mid=Op2f19Yr"]Check out all the stats from the match here[/a][/b][/p]