Coach tried new players and tactics ahead of Ghana's return leg in the World Cup playoffs Karim Farouk, Thursday 14 Nov 2013

Egypt managed a comfortable 2-0 home win against Zambia on Thursday in their final rehearsal ahead of their Ghana clash in the return leg of the World Cup qualifying playoffs. Amr Zaki, 8, and Rami Rabiea, 22, scored the Pharaohs' goals in their warm-up game ahead of next Tuesday's decider, which will be played in Difaa Al-Gawi stadium in Cairo.

Mohamed Abou-Treika sent a defence-splitting long pass to Mohamed Salah, who controlled the ball in the area before making a low centre to Amr Zaki to score in the empty nets in the eighth minute.

Midway through the first half, Rami Rabiea doubled the lead firing from inside the box after intercepting a badly deflected ball from the Zambian defence.

New tests

Coach Bob Bradley has tested a new formation and a new tactic different from that used against the Black Stars last month.

Switching to a more offensive approach using the 4-2-3-1 instead of a more conservative 4-3-3 adopted in Kumasi, the American tactician made several changes to his lineup.

Keeper Ahmed El-Shennawy was introduced between the sticks, speedy right-back Hazem Emam who was dropped from the first leg, and left-back Mohamed Abdel-Shafy and defender Rami Rabiea had starting roles.

In offence, Abou-Treika has been set as a provider for a three-pronged attack composed of flamboyant winger Mohamed Salah, striker Amr Zaki and Mohamed "Gedo" Nagy.

The combination proved lethal, setting up Egypt's first goal.

In the second half, Bradley tested more attacking options as Mahmoud "Shikabala" Abdel-Razeq, Ahmed Eid, Sherif Abdel-Fadil, Sayed Moawad, Mahmoud "Kahraba" Abdel-Moneim and Mohamed El-Neny were brought in.

However, the score remained as it is, despite some individual attacking efforts.

Egypt have a mountain to climb, as they need a five-goal margin victory against Ghana to overcome their 6-1 thrashing in the first leg and reach the World Cup finals.