Violence surrounds Egyptian victory

Amidst Egypt’s victory party after their 2-0 victory against Algeria a darker side to the weekend’s events emerged.

FIFA had warned Egypt on Friday after the Algerian team bus had been pelted with stones and 3 Algerian players sustained injuries. FIFA representative Walter Gagg stated “We saw that three players had been injured — Khaled Lemmouchia on the head, Rafik Halliche above the eye and Rafik Saifi on the arm….These weren’t superficial injuries,”

The bus had broken windows and blood stains were found on the floor. The Algerian press used the incident to drum up the atmosphere of hate by plastering front page pictures of the injured players. Whilst some sections of the Egyptian press had come out with accusations that the whole incident was an Algerian fabrication.

Further scenes of aggravation took place in Marseille which is home to a large population of Algerians. After Egypt’s victory youths went on a rampage setting alight rubbish in the street as well as cars and sinking two boats.

In Cairo itself clashes saw 32 people, 20 of these being Algerian, injured and three were still in hospital the next day. The hostility that was evident on Friday with the Algerian bus incident had not simmered down.

M’sila in southern Algeria saw homes of Egypt workers attacked, whilst the Egyptian embassy in Algiers was cordoned off.

Last gasp goal sees Egypt live again

Al Ahly striker Meteb sent Egypt into delirium on Saturday evening as his goal deep into injury time gave the Pharaohs a 2-0 victory and forced a playoff with bitter rivals Algeria.

In what the media was building up as the new ‘match of hate’ Egypt went into the match against the Desert Foxes in Cairo needing to win by two clear goals to keep World Cup qualification alive.

Amr Zaki gave the Pharaohs the perfect start pouncing on the ball from a few yards out to fire them into a 1-0 lead after 2 minutes.

Algeria were 3 points clear with a better goal difference. Egypt needed another goal to force a playoff. A 2-0 victory for Egypt would leave the teams level on points and level of goals scored and conceded.

Meteb replaced Zaki in the second half and Egypt set up camp in Algeria’s half. The full time mark of 90 minutes came and went and the score was still 1-0. In the fifth minute of injury time Meteb rose high in the Algerian box and a 2-0 victory was secured.

Fireworks erupted in the sky. The Algerian fans in the stands stood shell shocked. The whole of Egypt celebrated.

As both teams finished the group level on points, head to heads, and goal difference a playoff in Sudan’s Al-Merreikh Stadium in Omdurman will take place.

Bahrain fall at final hurdle

Bahrain fell to a second successive World Cup Qualifying Playoff defeat yesterday as they went down 1-0 away to New Zealand.

After the first leg in Bahrain finished 0-0 the tie was very much in the balance for both sides, but a solitary goal by New Zealand forward Paul Fallon just before half time sent New Zealand to only their second World Cup Finals appearance. After losing to Trinidad and Tobago in a playoff match four years ago Bahrain again saw their ambitions of a first ever World Cup Finals appearance disappear.

Bahrain went into the playoff tie as warm favourites. Although the first leg finished goaless the performance from Bahrain showed that they were the much more accomplished side and the tie was only theirs to loose.

Bahrain as expected started much the more attacking side. They began with the bulk of the possession and played a more expansive game to New Zealand’s. Although the Kiwis were playing an attacking 3-4-3 formation they seemed content with bypassing the midfield and launching high balls up to the target men of Chris Killen and Paul Fallon. As expected they were prepared to simply wait for set pieces to be awarded so that the delivery man of Leo Bertos could deliver crosses into the big men.

Bahrain sought to nullify the Kiwi’s more physical presence by playing for every foul they could get, with Sayed Mohamed going down with the slightest of touches from the stronger Killen or Fallon. New Zealand were frustrated as they were unable to use their physical presence to maximum effect.

Although Bahrain were keeping the ball well, recycling much better than New Zealand it was the Kiwi’s who first went close on 20 minutes. A typical free kick from Bertos into the box was not cleared and dealt with by Bahrain. The ball came over Killen’s head, he spun round and hit the ball on the volley only to see it hit the bar and go behind.

It took Bahrain another 10 minutes after this to carve out their best chance. The ball was headed out of the New Zealand box and found Bahrain’s only recognised striker Jaycee Okwunwa. He volleyed the ball and brought out a great save from Mark Paston who was able to smother the follow up strike.

Bahrain were in control of the match but it was New Zealand who were creating the more clear cut chances. On 40 minutes New Zealand’s most creative force Bertos crossed to find the big man Fallon free in the box. Sayed Jaffer in the Bahrain goal was moving to his right, but amazingly was able to correct his movement and save with an outstretched arm to his left.

This ariel dominance and persistent tactic should have signaled warning signs for Bahrain. With two minutes to go before half time New Zealand won a corner on the right. Bertos swung the ball in to find Fallon unchallenged in the 6 yard box who easily nodded home. The crowd in the Westpac Stadium went wild.

The second half started much like the first with Bahrain pressing. In the 50th minute the breakthrough seemed to have occurred for Bahrain. Tony Lochhead got on the wrong side of Abdulla Ismaeel Omar and his challenge brought the player down in the penalty box. Sayed Mohamed stepped up to take the penalty but it was well saved by Mark Paston. The shot was so weak he was able to save it low to his right and hang on to the ball.

Bahrain only needed to score the once as they would then go through on away goals. But surprisingly all the good chances were falling for New Zealand when they sporadically attacked. On more than one occasion New Zealand carved out gilt edged chances on the breakaway. In the 83rd minute Shane Smeltz who had underperformed all evening dragged his shot wide of the right hand post when it looked easier to score.

On 88 minutes Bahrain won a free kick on the edge of the New Zealand box. A fierce shot hit the wall and looped high into the night sky. It was falling just short of of the goal line, a crowd of players jumped for the ball, it came out to Abdulla Fatadi who knocked the ball into the net. However, before the ball had reached him the referee had blown for a foul on the New Zealand keeper. Replays had shown that Mark Paston had not even attempted to challenge for the ball, yet the foul was called anyway.

Bahrain were aghast that the goal had been ruled out. It was not until deep into injury time that Bahrain troubled the goal again, but a tame flicked on header from a cross went straight to Mark Paston.

As the final whistle blew the New Zealand subs and coaching team invaded the pitch. New Zealand were on the way to their second World Cup Finals. Bahrain had failed to reach their first on a second successive occasion.

Bahrain for all their possession had lacked the drive and determination that saw them score 2 goals against Saudi Arabia and set this playoff tie up. They seemed impotent in attack, and it was New Zealand who had created the better chances. Bahrain will look to the fact that injuries had provided them with only one fit striker for the match. But the reality was with the possession they enjoyed they should have carved out a lot more goal opportunities than they did.

The inquest into Bahrain’s failure to again reach the World Cup at the final hurdle to a weaker team will begin in ernest, while New Zealand book their plane tickets to South Africa.