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| January 30, 2006 | Monday | Zilhaj 29, 1426 |
Motaeb inspires Egypt
CAIRO, Jan 28: A double by Imad Motaeb inspired hosts Egypt to a 3-1 victory over Ivory Coast here on Saturday and saw them top African Nations Cup Group A.
In another match of the night former champions Morocco were held to a 0-0 draw by Libya which left both teams out of the competition.
Mohammed Terika got the other goal for the four-time winners after Arouna Kone had levelled for the Elephants shortly before half-time in a pulsating match that saw the best performances by the two sides so far.
It took the hosts just nine minutes to breach the Ivory Coast defence as Motaeb headed into an empty net, connecting with Abdel Zaher El Saka’s header across goal.
Mido left the action shortly afterwards clutching his groin and was replaced by Egyptian icon Hossam Hasan, who took the captain’s armband off Ahmed Hasan.
Egyptian ‘keeper Essam El Hadary was forced to turn away Emerse Fae’s drive and from the resulting corner Mohammed Abdel Wahab headed Gnegneri Toure’s header off the line.
The lively Kone then broke free and unleashed a fierce shot in the 35th minute which El Hadary did well to turn around the post for a corner.
The 22-year-old PSV Eindhoven striker, though, got his and the team’s deserved reward in the 43rd minute as he turned and shot from outside the area and it whistled into the net after taking a deflection off Ibrahim Said.
However joy turned to despair just after the hour mark as having had to take off the injured Tizie, his replacement Boubacar Barry’s first touch was to pick the ball out of the net as Terika shot into the far corner after being set up by Hasan’s delicate chip.
Egypt wrapped it up 10 minutes later after Barry did well to tip a Motaeb chip on to the bar but the ball rebounded to 39-year-old Hasan, who somehow managed to miss with his header but fortunately the dynamic 22-year-old Motaeb was there having picked himself off the ground to shoot home.—Agencies
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