Egypt - Zambia
Before the match:
The first match in a difficult
group to predict. Egypt the title holders with a team that has changed
coach and a Zambian team in a generation turn. After the match they will
be more sure about how their new receipes will have worked
The match is also a stage
for the two great old players of the tournament: Egyptian
Hossam Hassan and Zambian Kalusha Bwalya.
stats:
Egypt: 1-Nader El Sayed,
2-Ibrahim Hassan, 3-Mohamed Omara, 20-Hady Khashaba, 5-Abdelzaher El Saqqa,
8-Yasser Radwan (17- Ahmed Hassan, 78), 11-Tarek Said, 15-Ibrahim Said,
21-Ayman Abdelaziz, 9-Hossam Hassan, 19-Ahmed Salah Hosni (13-Abdulhalim
Ali, 90).
Zambia: 1-Davies Phiri,
2-Laughter Chilembi, 3-Elijah Litana, 4-Moses Sichone, 5-Elijah Tana, 8-Mannase
Mwanza, 10- Dennis Lota, 11-Kalusha Bwalya, 12-Andrew Tembo, 17-Andrew
Sinkala, 18-Mwape Miti
1:0 ('39) Yasser Radwan,
2:0 ('49) Hossam Hassan
1st half
- ('3) first appearance
of the legaendary Hossam Hassan in front of the Zambian goal
Egypt has the better
start in the first 10 minutes, but only minor opportunities yet.
- ('15) some problems for
the Egyptian keeper after a corner
- ('16) after a soul the
as well legendary Zambian #11 Kalusha Bwalya is injured and treated for
but returnes
- ('23) Zambia: free kick
from 20 meters for specialist Kalusha Bwalya: into wall
- ('25) Zambia now a bit
better in the match
The match is far less
exciting yet. The Egyptian defence looks tight again.
- ('30) dangerous Egyptian
corner. While defences will mark Hossam Hassan, the big talent of Ahmed
Hosny might spot the opportunity.
- ('39) With a header
from 7 meters Yasser Radwan scores - just as it looked the match could
become a typical 0:0 opener. A goal thanks to the 21-year old Tarek Said
who conquered the ball on the left wing against a Zambian defender and
served perfectly - 1:0
('45) a dangerous
attack by Zambia after an error, but the resulting shot rushes wide
Halftime:
1:0
Egypt has played out of
a solid defence. Zambia has not impressed. They lack the sophisticated
passing game with which the under 20 side had impressed 1999 at Nigeria
99.(World Youth Championships).
2nd half
- ('49) during a counter
attack Hossam Hassan scores one of his brilliant opportunistic goals when
a defender fails in clearing the ball - 2:0
- ('56) nice move by Hosni
sets up Hossam Hassan with a free lane towrds the goal, but his 18 meter
shot is no big threat
- ('60) Hossam Hassan collects
a stupid yellow card for handball - and he knows
- ('62) nice attack by Zambia,
set up by Kalusha Bwalya but Andrew Sinkala targets wide
- ('63) good save by the
Egyptian keeper after a spectacular Dennis Lota(?) shot
- (''72) another Zambian
opportunity wide
- ('82) the Zambians create
occasional goal scenes against a crowded Egyptian defence, but no real
must-score situations
- ('90) Egypt: a Hossam
Hassan Header hits the goal post
- ('injury time) another
Zambian opportunity blocked by another Egyptian defense leg
Final result:
2:0
Egypt has more or less taken
off where they left two years ago, despite they looked less inspired yet.
But it was only the first match. Zambia faught back after the 2:0 but did
not have the means to take the Egyptian defence apart. With this match
they will have lost their dark horse status for the near future.
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