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GROUP 7, week4:
Mar 23 2001 1400 GMT Libya
- Egypt 2:0
Before the match:
Once a tensed encounter with political implications it seems less emotionalised
this time. Egypt, the only team to have broken a series of home wins in
this group, is running away in the group and can qualify already
by winning this match.
Meanwhile Libya are seeking
to profit from any weekness Côte d'Ivoire might show to conquer the
second ticket.next coverage. But the match should be much too prestigious
to make any presents.
Egypt won the first match
in January 4:0 at home (report
here).
1st half:
-Libya in green shorts,
white shirts, Egypt in white shorts, red shirts
-('1)('2) both teams with
an attacking start, Libya with a corner in the first minute
-('7)('10) after a good
beginning by Libya Egypt starts to take over, has a long range attempt
across the bar and a fine attack along the left wing: a one-two, a good
cross and a header across the bar
-Egypt continue to threaten
via the left hand attacking side
-('13) Libyan #3 with an
eventually harmless long range attempt which could have become dangerous
by the bumpy ground
-('17) after a one-two Libyan
#14 shoots wide from 20 meters
-('18) Egyptian #17 from
half right moves out a defender and hits the crossbar from 16 meters
-minutes of complete
Egyptian domination
-('31) Egypt continue to
exploit the left wing, this time it leads to a bouncing 16 meter shot which
is dflected by the Libyan keeper for a corner
-('31) which brings a dangerous
Libyan counter attack with two players broken through - the scene is whisteled
back for offside, at least a very close call, Egypt were lucky here
-('33) Libya have been encouraged
by the scene and Egypt bring in #15 as substitute in attack
-('35) this time the Libyan
counter is not called back and after a brilliant #14 through ball it is
one against the keeper who plucks the ball from the attackers foot in the
last moment
-('43) the Libyan keeper
intercepts a through ball before it reaches the destinated attacker
-('45) Libya combinate around
the Egyptian defence and want a penalty as an attacker with the ball falls
down close to the goal but the referee waves on
halftime 0:0
for long time it looked
like total control for Egypt but the few sharp intelligent counter strikes
by Libya were dangerous and have altered the impression of the match.
Now it reminds a bit the Namibia-Egypt match some weeks ago in the World
Cup qualifiers (which ended 1:1 after the hosts took the lead by a counter
strike in the second half). If Egypt score first they should win the match.
Otherwise it will become difficult.
2nd half:
-('47) Liby begin the second
half with a good opportunity but the resulting 6 meter shot is eventually
harmless and easily saved
-('49) Egypt seem to be
woken up but again run into a counter attack which the Egyptian keeper
can clear by coming out in time and kicking the ball away
-Libya continue to threaten
by their cutting through balls and by skillful attackers, among them their
captain #14, and #9
-('52('53)) now Egypt work
out an opportunity and a corner, later a sharp 20 meter shot, wide by only
a meter
-('55) Libyan #14 works
out a throw in, a sharp bouncing cross by the same player follows and #3,
a defensive midfielder? who had been already conspiciious in the first
half for attacking attempts fires it into the goal after another attacker
had missed the ball and irritated the defence - 1:0
-('58) Egypt increase the
pace: a flying save by the Libyan keeper against a dangerous cross
-('60) the Libyan keeper
saves in a situation already whistled dead and needs or 'takes' an injury
time out, a welcome break for Libya either way
-the goal did not do
the Libyan game good: now they play drawn back deep with the consequence
of aiutomatic situations in fron of their goal while the Egyptians are
obviously fired up - on the other hand Libya should have now even more
space for counter attacks. The question only how long their fitness will
priovide the necessary concentration for the exactness of the passing game
-('65) Libya run into a
counter themselves but Egypt can not exploit the sudden marking mismatch
-('67) Libya: through
ball on #9 who has beaten the offside trap and unleashes a sharp shot from
17 meters which the keeper touches but not deflects from the goal,
so that it bounces into the net - 2:0
-('69) Egypt bring on substitute
#9
-('73) another counter attack
by Libya fires up the crowd but is no threat in the end
-Egypt look fallen apart,
they play a disastrous second half, and now seem totally out of concept,
often several players run uncoordinated to the same spot - it seems the
absence of som prominent experienced players is a factor here
-('75) Egyptian header wide
-('78) now it is an Egyptian
attacker who likes to get a penalty but his attempt is similarly ignored
as the Libyan one in first half
-('82) another strong scene
by Libyan #3 who conquers the ball and starts a counter attack right away
- which in the end fades without effect
-('86) unconcentrated Libyan
defending but Egypt cannot convert a good header opportunity
-('88) good opportunity
for Egypt, but a defeder throws himself into the ball in the last moment
-('90) another good scene
for Egypt, but the keeper saves and has himself another injury time out
-('injury time) Libya escape
a last dangerous situation
result 2:0
A strange match which Egypt
seemed to have dominated early. But Libya established their brilliant geometrical
fast passing, exploiting the spaces and creating dangerous counter situations.
Egypt lost all concepts in their mediocre second half, a possible credit
to the absence of prominent experienced players like Ramzy and the Hassan
twins. Libya are now a big threat to Côte d'Ivoire for a place at
the Nations Cup finals while Egypt still is not really in danger yet. They
rather have squandered some reputation and confidence for away matches. |
Zusammenfassung
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