3 - 9 May 2001
Issue No.532
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 3 - 9 May 2001 Issue No.532 |
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Current issue | Previous issue | Site map | ||
A blessing in disguise
Despite losing in an international soccer tournament, Egypt nevertheless gained some valuable pointers, as Nashwa Abdel-Tawab reports
Egypt took second place in the four-team LG soccer tournament played in Cairo but there were few complaints. If anything, Mahmoud El-Gohari was quite satisfied with the outcome. "I'm very happy with the result even if we lost," Egypt's coach said. "I tried some new players and tested others in different positions. We also tried to emulate certain tactics that enriched our game."
Egyptian newcomer El-Mehaly tries to get by the speedy Korean
photo: Yousri Aql
He could have also mentioned that the team cannot do without its European-based players, few of whom played against the South Koreans in the 2-1 loss in the final.
Despite the defeat, the tournament provided a useful warm-up before Egypt meets Senegal in a crucial World Cup qualifier in Cairo on 6 May. Senegal and Morocco head the group with nine points each. Egypt has six points with a game in hand. Pundits agree that 15 points would be sufficient to top the group for a World Cup ticket.
South Korea finished first in the LG event and grabbed $50,000 in prize money in the process compared to Egypt's $30,000. Canada came third and took away $20,000. Iran came dead last and went away empty-handed.
South Korea, which will co-host the 2002 World Cup, went ahead with a goal in the 13th minute. Mazhar Abdel-Rahman levelled in the 22nd minute and Ibrahim Said, playing in his first match in several months, missed a penalty kick. In the second half, the Koreans went ahead again in the 62th minute, this time to stay.
Egypt's Tareq El-Said was voted the tournament's best player.
Egypt cruised to the final after beating Canada 3-0 in the semi-final. Abdel-Sattar Sabri, Ahmed Salah Hosni and Mohamed Barakat struck in the first half to give Egypt all the goals it would need.
Canada upset Iran 1-0 to take third place. Iran dominated despite the absence of key players but could not find the net.
Senegal will arrive in Egypt after thrashing Algeria 3-0 earlier this month. It would be making its World Cup debut should it finish atop the group. It would be Morocco's fifth World Cup appearance and Egypt's third should either of them finish first in their group.
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