28 June - 4 July 2001
Issue No.540
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 28 June - 4 July 2001 Issue No.540 |
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Plugging holes quickly
Under-20 footballers stayed afloat in the World Youth Cup. Alaa Shahine reports on the resurrection in Buenos Aires
After being knocked senseless against Argentina, Egypt's under-20 footballers got some sense knocked back into them as they edged Finland 2-1 to make it to the second round of the World Youth Cup.
A Finn takes a leap but leaves the ball behind
Last week's 7-1 trouncing against the favoured South Americans, though it generated seething headlines in the local press, did not appear to have a detrimental effect on the players; at least, they didn't show any ill- effects against Finland. After being savaged so, the youngsters licked their wounds, put behind them the debacle and, against the Finns, managed to do enough to stave off an early exit.
Two goals by Gamal Hamza and Wael Riad were enough to offset the lone Finnish goal scored by Daniel Sjolund. The victory left Egypt in second place in Group A on four points, good enough to advance, but five points behind group leaders Argentina which routed Jamaica 5-1 to maintain its perfect record.
On Saturday, at Jose Amantifaldi Stadium, the venue of Egypt's meltdown against Argentina three days earlier, the Egyptians took the Finnish side by storm. With the match only 10 minutes old, defender Hannu Haarala handed Egypt a penalty following a hand ball. Hamza, who lost a penalty against Jamaica in the opening game, did it right this time for a 1-0 lead.
Egypt continued to dominate in terms of possession and chances created. Hamza sent a perfect pass into the heart of the area to skipper Reda Shehata who unleashed a powerful shot which was saved well by Otto Fredrikson.
The Egyptians had the upper hand in the midfield thanks to Hamza who orchestrated his team's attacks, while striker Mohamed El- Yamani tormented the Finnish defence with his cunning.
Three minutes before the interval, Hamza brought the best out of the Finnish keeper with a spectacular shot which was tipped away.
Riad doubled the lead in the 61st minute, one minute after he came off the bench to replace Shehata. Hamza sent Riad clear, leaving him with nobody but the keeper to beat, which he did, guiding the ball home easily.
The Finns closed the gap to within one in the 74th minute through Sjolund who rose to meet a pinpoint cross and fired a header home, breathing life into his side's fading qualifying hopes.
The remainder of the match featured an all- out assault by the Finnish side occasionally punctuated by dangerous Egyptian counterattacks.
In Group B, played in Cordoba, Brazil finished the first round in first place with a maximum nine points after edging Canada 2-0, while Germany outclassed the other Arab representative, Iraq, 3-1 to book the second qualification slot. An own goal by Denis Lapaczinsk gave the Asian champions a 37th minute lead before Christoph Preuss levelled the score three minutes later. The Germans extended their lead in the second half, courtesy of Michael Zepek and Benjamin Auer and the sending off of Iraqi defender Hassan Haider. The defeat knocked Iraq out of the tournament after finishing in third place on three points. The half-dozen goals it had conceded against Brazil prevented Iraq from sneaking into the second round as one of the best third-placed teams.
In Group C, played in Mendoza, the Ukraine played to a 1-1 draw against the United States, allowing the east Europeans to advance to the second round after taking first place with five points. The Americans, a rising power in football world, came second on four points, surpassing China on goal difference after the Asians suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat against Chile.
Angola made it to the second round after topping Group D with five points, one ahead of the Czech Republic and Australia. The Aussies, however, managed to make it to the next round as one of the best four third- ranked teams. Japan left the tournament with a bang, hammering the Czech Republic 3-0 while Australia played to a 1-1 tie against Angola.
Little-fancied Costa Rica caused a stir in Group E, finishing ahead with a maximum nine points, five points clear of Ecuador and Holland who, nevertheless, both advanced. Costa Rica edged Ecuador 1-0 in their final match while the Dutch, coached by Ruud Kroll, a former coach of Egypt and Zamalek, survived with a 3-2 victory over Ethiopia.
African giants Ghana, one of the world's football powerhouses in youth competitions, stole the limelight in Group F after finishing first with seven points. France, whose senior team is the best in the world, finished with five points after drawing 0-0 with the Ghanaians, popularly known as the Black Satellites. Paraguay advanced after blanking Iran 2-0 to finish third on four points.
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