Egypt beats Algeria 2-0 in World Cup qualifier

Nov 14, 2009 - 10:00 PM By HADEEL AL-SHALCHI Associated Press Writer

CAIRO(AP) -- Emad Meteab headed in a goal in the fifth minute of second-half injury time, and Egypt forced a tiebreaker playoff for a World Cup berth with a dramatic 2-0 victory over Algeria on Saturday night.

Amr Zaki gave Egypt the lead in the second minute, and the Pharaohs kept pressing for a second goal. With Algeria seconds from qualifying for its first World Cup since 1986, Meteab beat goalkeeper Lounes Gaouaoui to leave the teams tied atop Group C on points (13), goals for (nine), goals against (four) and head-to-head record (1-1).

They will play against Wednesday in Sudan, with the winner gaining Africa's sixth and final berth for next year's 32-nation field in South Africa.

In November 1989, Egypt and Algeria met with a World Cup berth at stake and Egypt won 1-0 to qualify for the 1990 tournament in Italy. After that match in Cairo, fans clashed in the stadium and in the streets, and the Egyptian team's doctor lost an eye when he was hit by a bottle.

Egyptian fans greeted the Algerian team at the airport on Thursday by pelting its bus with stones, and Algerian officials said two team members were injured. On Saturday, both Khaled Lemmouchia and Rafik Halliche wore head bandages while playing.

Algerian fans posted Internet clips mocking the Egyptian players by giving them the faces of famous Egyptian actresses and belly dancers.

The head of the Algerian Football Association blamed the loss on the animosity.

"We played under warlike conditions," Mohammad Rawrawa said. "It was difficult to perform well, but we will win on Wednesday in Sudan because the atmosphere will be calmer."

Zaki had not scored in qualifying since March.

"The important thing is that I do the same thing on Wednesday," he said.

Fireworks lit up the sky over the stadium and Egyptians took to the streets dancing after the goal by Meteab, who replaced Zaki in the 65th minute. People honked car horns and set off flares.

In downtown Cairo, fans watching the game erupted with joy and shouted anti-Algerian chants.

Special forces, counterterrorism squads and plainclothes agents were deployed in and around 80,000-seat Cairo International Stadium. Police searched fans entering; sharp objects, cans and glass bottles were banned.

Egypt, a record six-time winner of the African Cup of Nations, hasn't reached the World Cup since 1990.