EGYPT/ALGERIA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Algerian fans tense and Egyptain assistant coach happy with World Cup survival

Record ID: 573836

  • Title: EGYPT/ALGERIA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Algerian fans tense and Egyptain assistant coach happy with World Cup survival
  • Date: 15th November 2009
  • Summary: SUPPORTERS EXPRESSING THEIR ANGUISH WHEN THE EGYPTIAN SOCCER TEAM SCORES THE FIRST GOAL TWO MINUTES AFTER THE BEGINNING OF THE MATCH
  • Embargoed: 30th November 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA6RAZCGIKJFDFCAPUOS01YFM0F
  • Story Text: Egypt and Algeria will return to the pitch on Wednesday (November 18) to settle the last of Africa's qualifying berths for the 2010 World Cup after a dramatic late goal gave the home side a 2-0 win in their last group game on Saturday (November 14).
    Substitute Emad Moteab's header five minutes into stoppage time gave Egypt the winning margin they needed over Algeria in a tense encounter in front of just over 74,000 fans in Cairo and ensured they finished level at the top of Group C.
    FIFA determined earlier this week the two teams would play off in neutral Sudan if the group was deadlocked.
    Fans in Algiers watched in disbelief as Algeria were a minute away from holding out for their first World Cup finals appearance in 24 years when Moteab struck with a looping header at the back post.
    A 1-0 defeat would have seen Algeria through to the finals in South Africa on goal difference. Egypt needed to win by three clear goals to book a place for the first time since 1990.
    The dramatic end replicated a furious start as Egypt took the lead after just two minutes through striker Amr Zaki.
    He followed up after Mohamed Aboutrika struck the post and the initial rebound from Mohamed Zidan was palmed away Algeria goalkeeper Lounes Gaouaoui.
    The match was preceded by an attack on the Algeria team bus by Egyptian youths in which three players suffered facial cuts. FIFA had to appeal for calm while the Egyptian FA claimed Thursday's incident was staged by the Algerians.
    In Cairo, Egyptian assistant coach Shakwi Gharib said that given the intense pressure, the players had performed admirably.
    "Today, thank God, there were heroes in the stadium, and they managed to play a match that earned the respect of the people. It's not an issue of who wins, or to score goals, or who earns something from the match, this is not the issue, until the second we could have scored three goals or we could have conceded a goal. What I mean is that it was an enjoyable match for us, and for them," he said.
    Gharib also praised his side's concentration and focus, in a game in which they faced an Algerian side that often threw 11 men behind the halfway line in an attempt to hold on after Egypt's first goal.
    "What I want to say is that I consider this to be a historical match for Egyptian football, because we were facing many, many challenges. We started the match down two goals, for one of the first times the team had all its players, for the first time you feel that the players were concentrating only on football and not protesting the referees decisions, no one was arguing with other players. I felt that the Egyptian and Algerian players were brothers on the pitch," he said.
    The Egyptian team will have little time to enjoy their victory however as pressure builds now for what will be just as tough a derby in Sudan, with everything still to play for.
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