Egypt 2-0 Algeria: Emad Moteab’s 95th Minute Goal Forces a World Cup Playoff
If you read our African World Cup qualifying finale preview post yesterday, then you knew that Egypt vs Algeria was big. Historic bad feeling, exacerbated by Egyptian fans attacking the Algerian team bus in Cairo big. There was also the beautifully weighted qualification situation in Group C, where Egypt needed to beat Algeria by three goals or more to qualify for World Cup 2010 at Algeria’s expense.
A heaving crowd of 75,000 at Cairo International Stadium saw Amr Zaki give Egypt a 1-0 lead in the second minute. Good start, but 1-0 would still see Algeria qualify on goal difference. It stayed 1-0 for the next 90+ minutes, with the Cairo crowd on edge. With time running out and Egypt nearly eliminated, Emad Moteab headed in a 95th minute goal to make it 2-0 and send the stadium wild.
The result means Egypt and Algeria finish level on points, level on goal difference at the top of Group C. There’ll be no drawing of lots or any other silliness. Instead there’s going to be a hastily arranged playoff game this Wednesday, November 18th in the neutral venue of Sudan.
So that’s one game – none of this two-legs nonsense – to decide who goes to World Cup 2010: Egypt or Algeria. Don’t miss that game.
Elsewhere in African qualifying: Cameroon confirmed their spot in South Africa by winning 2-0 in Morocco, but there was huge disappointment for Tunisia, who lost 1-0 to Mozambique while Nigeria beat Kenya 3-2. That result sees Nigeria leapfrog Tunisia to take top spot on Group B and qualify for the World Cup.
So the African qualifiers for World Cup 2010 are: South Africa (hosts, but you knew that), Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Nigeria, and… either Algeria or Egypt. We’ll know on Wednesday.
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