CAIRO, March 26 (Reuters) - Sergio Aguero set Argentina on their way to a 2-0 victory over African champions Egypt in a friendly on Wednesday.
Defender Nicolas Burdisso added the second with his first international goal as Argentina made light of the absence of the injured Lionel Messi and Juan Roman Riquelme.
Egypt were fielding virtually the same team which beat Cameroon in the Nations Cup final in Ghana one month ago.
Argentina took early control with Luis Gonzalez shooting across the face of the goal in the first minute.
They were close again with a Martin Demichelis header and a Maxi Rodriguez lob which was cleared off the line by Hani Said.
As Egypt fought their way into the game, Mohamed Zidan intercepted a clearance by Roberto Abbondanzieri and tried his luck with a 30-metre lob which was saved by the Argentine goalkeeper.
Zidan was close again early in the second half as he chested down a pass, cut inside his marker and shot narrowly wide of the right-hand post with Abbondanzieri beaten.
Mohamed Aboutrika wasted an excellent chance for Egypt when, after being found unmarked on the penalty spot by Ahmed Fathi, he shot weakly at Abbondanzieri.
Argentina's makeshift strike partnership of Julio Cruz and Aguero rarely threatened until the 64th minute when Aguero swept the ball wide from inside the area.
The breakthrough came two minutes later, when a long ball forward eluded the Egypt defence and found Aguero. The 19-year-old Atletico Madrid player burst into the penalty area and fired into the roof of the net.
Rodriguez tested Essam Al Hadari with a low 30-metre shot and Aguero wasted a chance for a second when he shot wide from a free position after Fernando Gago had opened up the Pharaohs' defence.
Argentina, now in firm control, added a second in the 85th minute when Burdisso scored with a looping header at the far post after being picked out by Rodriguez's free kick.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Al Hadari named in Egypt team for Argentina match
Egypt named goalkeeper Essam Al Hadari in their squad for next week's international against Argentina despite him being sidelined since an abortive bid to join a Swiss club last month.
Coach Hassan Shehata on Tuesday picked the same 23 players who won a record-breaking sixth Nations Cup in Ghana last month. The match in Cairo on March 26 is Egypt's first since beating Cameroon 1-0 in the tournament final.
Al Hadari returned to training with Cairo club Al Ahli last week after an unsuccessful attempt to break his contract and sign for Swiss club FC Sion.
The 35-year-old was fined 250,000 Egyptian pounds ($45,510) by the club and suspended for three weeks after trying to use a legal loophole to join Sion.
Al Hadari had sought to terminate his contract in line with Article 17 of FIFA's transfer regulations which allows players to cancel their contracts after a "protected period".
Al Hadari had hoped that because of his extended service at Al Ahli, he would be allowed to end his contract and move to Sion for a compensatory payment of 270,000 euros ($426,900), the equivalent of the rest of his contract with the Cairo club.
After being unveiled as a new signing by Sion and signing a deal until 2011, Al Hadari returned to Egypt at the start of the month when it became clear he could not make the move because he had not given Al Ahli the required notice period. (Writing by Mark Gleeson; editing by Miles Evans)
Coach Hassan Shehata on Tuesday picked the same 23 players who won a record-breaking sixth Nations Cup in Ghana last month. The match in Cairo on March 26 is Egypt's first since beating Cameroon 1-0 in the tournament final.
Al Hadari returned to training with Cairo club Al Ahli last week after an unsuccessful attempt to break his contract and sign for Swiss club FC Sion.
The 35-year-old was fined 250,000 Egyptian pounds ($45,510) by the club and suspended for three weeks after trying to use a legal loophole to join Sion.
Al Hadari had sought to terminate his contract in line with Article 17 of FIFA's transfer regulations which allows players to cancel their contracts after a "protected period".
Al Hadari had hoped that because of his extended service at Al Ahli, he would be allowed to end his contract and move to Sion for a compensatory payment of 270,000 euros ($426,900), the equivalent of the rest of his contract with the Cairo club.
After being unveiled as a new signing by Sion and signing a deal until 2011, Al Hadari returned to Egypt at the start of the month when it became clear he could not make the move because he had not given Al Ahli the required notice period. (Writing by Mark Gleeson; editing by Miles Evans)
Monday, March 3, 2008
Ghana 2008: Egypt Crowned Champ
It has been a wonderful finale for twenty days of exciting football, the curtain came down when the Pharaohs tames the lions to clinch their six titles in a flying colors, the Egyptian lost non of their matches in this tournament and defeated the like of Cameron and Ivory Coast with four goals each, it has been the best ever for them.
Keeping the defeat in their opening game versus Egypt, Cameroon approached the finals with very little inclination to attack fielding a five man midfield and leaving Samuel Eto’o up front as the sole target man. The match was relatively poor and did not leave up to expectation for the most prestigious African competition, which draw the attention of star hunter worldwide.
The negative approach of the indomitable Lions helps the Egyptian to dominate and have the upper hand throughout the ninety minutes, and attack with all their might until Mohamed Aboutraika scored the game's only goal in the 77th minute to propel Egypt to victory.
In the end Cameroon had nothing in the box of tricks to trouble Egypt and as the whistle went Egypt celebrated history with their sixth African Nations championship.
The Egyptians won the continental trophy in 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006 and 2008 while Cameroon celebrated victory in 1984, 1988, 2000 and 2002
Keeping the defeat in their opening game versus Egypt, Cameroon approached the finals with very little inclination to attack fielding a five man midfield and leaving Samuel Eto’o up front as the sole target man. The match was relatively poor and did not leave up to expectation for the most prestigious African competition, which draw the attention of star hunter worldwide.
The negative approach of the indomitable Lions helps the Egyptian to dominate and have the upper hand throughout the ninety minutes, and attack with all their might until Mohamed Aboutraika scored the game's only goal in the 77th minute to propel Egypt to victory.
In the end Cameroon had nothing in the box of tricks to trouble Egypt and as the whistle went Egypt celebrated history with their sixth African Nations championship.
The Egyptians won the continental trophy in 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006 and 2008 while Cameroon celebrated victory in 1984, 1988, 2000 and 2002
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