21 - 27 June 2001
Issue No.539
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 21 - 27 June 2001 Issue No.539 |
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For a change
IN A season-ending game with a difference, a 2-0 victory in extra time against Mehalla gave Ahli its 32nd FA Cup title, its first since 1996.Ahli, title holders of the league championship for the past seven years, was dethroned by Zamalek this year but still ended the season with a trophy to call its own.
Both teams played to a scoreless draw in regulation time that saw Mehalla fail to take a single shot on goal. Ahli's breakthrough came in the 105th minute when, from a direct kick, Alaa Ibrahim's pinpoint strike sailed by goalkeeper Sayed El-Qasrawi who dived in futility. Mohamed Gouda put the game beyond doubt with a penalty four minutes from time.
More than LE40,000 in prize money awaits each Ahli player.
Looking beyond
IN ABIDJAN, Egypt rallied at the last minute to tie Côte d'Ivoire 2-2 in the final qualifier for the African Nations Cup to be played in Mali next year.Egypt and Côte d'Ivoire had already qualified in their group which included Libya and Sudan. The importance of the match lay in who would finish atop the group; the first-place finisher would be seeded when the draws are made for the Nations Cup. In the event, Egypt finished with 13 points, two ahead of Côte d'Ivoire.
Sunday's match was also seen as a warm- up for Egypt for the crucial clash against Morocco on 30 June in a World Cup qualifier. Head coach Mahmoud El-Gohari insisted on playing with the same line-up that will face Morocco.
All four goals were scored in the second half after a listless first. Stuttgart-based Ahmed Salah Hosni opened the scoring for the Egyptians in the 57th minute when he gently side-footed the ball home. The home team levelled from the spot even though the adjudged foul was committed clearly outside the penalty box. In an attempt at clearance, Egypt's goalkeeper Nader El-Sayed punched the ball into his own net for an own goal in the 84th minute. A minute later, though, defender Ibrahim Said brought Egypt back to parity.
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