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GROUP 3, week
6:
Jun 16, 1700 GMT Morocco
- Gabon 0:1
Before the match
a new episode of 'strange
things are going on in African Football'. At least what schedule planning
around the Tunsisian games is concerned (see World Cup qualifiers).
It has to be said first
that reasons are completely unknown and conclusions are completely speculative
but fact is that the Tunisians are given a big and unusual advantage on
this last weekend of the African Nations Cup qualifiers.
If dates are right the North
Africans are allowed to play a day later and already with the knowledge
of the result of the Morocco-Gabon match. This makes a big difference.
If Gabon wins, Tunisia will know exactly which scoreline they need and
can adjust their gameplan. If Gabon does not win it is still an advantage:
they do not need to take risks when leading by only one goal against Kenya.
It is also an advantage
for Kenya as they will know whether they will only need a draw or a victory
at Tunis.
Normally it is ordered to
play the decisive last group matches at the same time.
1st half
-Morocco: green, green,
red (shirts), Gabon in all white
-('6) it looked like a good
move by Gabones #10 who would have had a free way to the goal but is whistled
back for a foul
-('7) Morocco: Adil Ramzi
is set free by a diagonal pass exposing the mismatch in coverage, but he
fires across the bar
-for Morocco, already
qualified, the match serves to prepare for the big World Cup qualifier
against Egypt in two weeks
-('14) Morocco: cross from
left hand side, 10 m header far across the bar
-('15) Morocco continue
to exploit the left wing but do not get a goal situation
-('17) Morocco this time
along the right wing but again Gabonese can defend the centered ball
-('18) Gabon with a nice
attack but stopped
-('19) Morocco break through
and the Gabonese keeper has to rescue twice with the defenders beaten
-Gabon play neat football
when trying to attack but look vulnerable in defence especially when Morocco
accelerate the pace
-('21) Gabon: Morocco keeper
saves against #9 who is through and unleashes a low shot from half left.
-('24) Morocco #14 Bassir
fires across the bar from half right
-('25) Gabon: counter attack,
they have Morocco outnumbered or at least bad positioned and #9, all free
in front of the goal, tries to volley a cross directly but the ball flies
wide
-('33) Gabon: header by
#9 after corner and huge save by the Moroccan keeper. In the second attempt
another Gabonese player wants to push the ball across the line but falls
down in contact with a defender. He wants a penalty but the referee refuses
-('34) Morocco: Bassir cross
and Ramzi header centimeters over the bar
-('37) Morocco: Gabon under
pressure by a couple of dangerous shots and insuing corners
-('42) Morocco: free kick
from half dangerous half right position - into the wall
-('43) Morocco: good looking
bycicle kick but no problem for the keeper
-('45) Gabon: #9 from
the left flank with a low ball into the middle, #7 runs into and scores
directly - 0:1
halftime 0:1
Gabonese game looks neat
as long there is enough space. But it lacks a fluent passing game and when
Morocco pressure balls are lost quickly. The players are skillful, conspicious
#7, a small skillful midfield player and #9 (Daniel Cousin ?), a direct
striker type. The two connected for the goal, but the other way round.
The goal came a bit surprisingly in a quite balanced match with a slightly
greater number of opportunities for Morocco
2nd half
-('51) Morocco: Gabonese
keeper very concentrated against a long range attempt.
-the bitch is a bit bumpy
and low shots become dangerous and difficult for keepers to calculate
-('55) Gabon: long range
free kick across the bar - no danger (#9 Cousin)
-('57) Morocco have played
out half the defence on a fast counter attack but somehow the guests escape
with a corner
-the Gabonese play drawn
back now. By this they are less exposed but the defence does not loot like
they could really guarantuee this one goal lead will survive the whole
second half. The Central Africans need to reestablish some kind of attacking
game themselves
-('61) Morocco: after a
cross a header sets up a direct shot by #18 which is on the direct way
into the triangle. But a miracolous save by the keeper prevents it from
crossing the line
-('71) Morocco with difficulties
to force opportunities, here a dangerous low cross by #11 from the left
hand side but the keeper perfectly intercepts it
-('75) Morocco: corner and
dangerous situation in the penalty area, the Gabonese defence cannot get
a foot in. But the eventual shot goes across the bar
-('76) the number of rough
Gabonese tacklings has increased. A conseuqnece from the desperate fight
to secure the lead against a constantly attacking Moroccan team and of
growing tiredness probably.
-Morocco do not have
a good second half. The substituations might have contributed to the fragmentation
of their game but it can be also the setting sun they have to play into
which is irritating when constructing a passing game. And the Gabonese
are fighting hard.
The match might serve
well as help to get Hadji back into the team.
-('88) Gabon: #10 (Bito?)
protectss the ball well on right hand side then centers to #14 who 25 meter
from the goal unleashes a sudden shot. The keeper makes a good save.
-('90) 3 minutes injury
time are signalled
-('injury time) the efforts
of Morocco are not convincing. They hurry but in front of the goal they
are far from inspiration
final score 0:1
The Gabonese have made 6
points against Morocco but they have had the disatvantage they did not
have a halftime result or something from the other game. Tunisia and Kenya
tomorrow will know right from the start what they will need. Only after
the match tomorrow it will be clear what this surprise success is worth.
Tunisia needs a two goal
margin (or a one goal margin with a 3:2 or higher) , Kenya needs a win
regardless what scoreline.
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