Submitted by basem — Thu, 01/28/2010 - 17:47
Reuters January 29, 2010 10:19AM
EGYPT thrashed arch-rival Algeria 4-0 today to make the African Nations Cup final, with the losers going into meltdown as three of its players were sent off. Egypt will now play Ghana in Sunday's final, after Ghana defeated Nigeria 1-0 earlier today. Today's Egypt-Algeria match followed a virtual on-pitch riot in their World Cup qualifying clash a few months ago. Egypt's Zidan described today's game as like going to "war." Egypt stayed on course for a third successive title with goals from Hosni Abd Rabou, Mohamed Zidan, Mohamed Abdelshafi and Gedo in injury time.
Egypt didn't just beat Algeria tonight; they humiliated them
Egypt didn't just beat Algeria tonight; they humiliated them, rendering them an ill-disciplined rabble who finished the game with just eight men. The Pharaohs' passing, as hypnotic as it has been all tournament, had already given them control when a dreadful error from Rafik Halliche after 37 minutes, brought on by the mounting pressure, gave them the game.
Zidan, as though inspired by his own description of the game as "war", was brilliant tonight after a subdued tournament, and when he initiated a rapid break from an Algeria corner, Halliche missed a long diagonal and Emad Meteeb was clean through. Halliche's attempt to recover was clumsy and as Meteeb went down the Beninois referee, Koffi Codjia, awarded a penalty and showed a second yellow card. Hosny Abd Rabou converted the penalty and Algeria fell apart. As they protested about Abd Rabou's stuttered run-up to take the penalty, their goalkeeper, Faouzi Chaouchi, seemed to aim a head-butt at Codjia. The referee only cautioned the goalkeeper, but if the Confederation of African Football takes a dimmer view of the incident he could be banned from all three of Algeria's group games at the World Cup – the second of which, of course, is against England.
Read More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jan/28/algeria-egypt-africa-cup-...
Algeria 0-4 Egypt
By Stephen Fottrell
Egypt strolled through to their third successive Africa Cup of Nations final, overcoming Algeria 4-0, with their great rivals finishing with eight men. Hosni Abd Rabou put Egypt ahead from the spot, after Algeria's Rafik Halliche was sent-off for the foul. Mohamed Zidan doubled the lead, before Mohamed Abdelshafi made it three and Mohamed Gedo completed the rout. Algeria totally lost their discipline and saw Nadir Belhadj and keeper Fawzi Chaouchi also dismissed late on.
The Algerian keeper angrily chased down the referee and looked like he made contact with the official's head, who surprisingly only gave him a yellow card. Bougherra was then lucky not to be caught for an elbow in Abd Rabou's face right at the end of a half that promised fireworks - and duly delivered. Four minutes into the second period, Egypt had another penalty shout when Motaeb again appeared to be felled in the box, this time by Bougherra, but no decision was given.
Read More:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/8483733.stm