International Friendly: Unconvincing Egypt beat weakened Ghana

EGYPT (goalnetwork) -- Egypt scored an unconvincing 2-0 win over weakened Ghana in a warm-up for their World Cup qualifying campaign which starts next month. Egypt’s opening match is away to Senegal in Dakar on July 9.

Ghana came to Cairo without all their European-based players, and hardly looked strong opposition. The Pharaohs netted once in each half.

Skipper Hossam Hassan won his 144th cap, but his younger colleagues assumed the scoring duties. Debut-making Salah Abdulltif headed Egypt into an eight-minute lead following a pinpoint cross by winger Abdulsattar Sabri.

Coach Mahmoud El-Gohary made five substitutions after the interval. Egypt missed a host of chances, before Ahmed Salah Husni netted the second goal, two minutes into injury time, with another glancing header.

But Egypt’s performance hardly convinced the 10,000 crowd that they can win through Africa’s "Group of Death", against Morocco, Algeria, Senegal and Namibia.

Two matches were played over the weekend. Morocco were held to a goalless draw by Namibia in Windhoek, while Algeria could only manage a 1-1 draw against Senegal.

CAIRO, EGYPT - ESO - A strong start for the Egyptian national team in this international friendly. Egypt pressured Ghana from the first minute, missing several chances of which the most significant was a give-and-go from Abd El-Sattar Sabry to veteran striker Hossam Hassan who shot the ball wide from close range. Egypt's pressure on Ghana rewarded the Egyptian side with an early goal in the 8th minute; Egyptian midfielder Ahmed Hassan passed the ball to Abd El-Sattar Sabry who managed to escape from Ghana's offside trap, and crossed it to Walid Abd El-Latif who placed it in the upper left corner of Ghana's keeper, Adjei.
Ghana had not participated offensively before Egypt scored. Their first chance in the match came from a counterattack which was saved by a clean tackle from an Egyptian defender before Ghana's striker could shoot.
The rythm of the game had slowed down a bit after Egypt's goal, but again, Egypt had most of the posession, and showed more will to attack, and score a second goal. Benfica's Abd El-Sattar Sabry caused alot of comotion in Ghana's right wing. The speedy Egyptian midfielder showed some superb individual skills, and killer passes throughout the half.
The game took a very open style in the first half; at times, there would be several quick attacks, and counterattacks from both sides. Egypt's attackers giving a good show of one-touch passing, while Ghana's players were very slow in moving the ball around.
The second half came at a slower rate of play than the first, Egypt's players satisfied of their performance. This could have given Ghana the opportunity to equalize, as most teams do when Egypt slows down, but the Ghanian side, void of any professional players, could not even reach Egypt's goal except for a few times, the most dangerous being a shot from long range which went high.
The 5 substitutions El-Gouhary made finally began to take effect at the end of the second half; Egypt missed a golden opportunity for a second goal when a crossed ball passed by both Mohamed Farouk, and the keeper, to deflect off another Egyptian attacker, and reaches Ahmed Hassan who shot it into the crowded defence in front of the goal. Egypt ended the match with a goal very similar to their first half goal. This time, Ahmed Hassan crossed the ball to Ahmed Salah Hosney who soared above the defender marking him, and scored.

match statistics
GOALS * 2 0 SUBSTITUTIONS ** 5 3 OFFSIDES 6 4 CORNERS 5 7 FOULS COMITTED 11 19 BOOKINGS 1 3 EXPULSIONS 0 0 SHOTS 15 6 SHOTS ON TARGET 5 2 CHANCES 3 1