First half strikes put Egypt past Angola

Monday, 04 February 08, 01:32 PM · Comments(0)

Egypt will play Ivory Coast for a place in the African Cup of Nations final after a 2-1 win over Angola in Kumasi this evening.

The Pharaohs were not rattled by a thunderbolt strike from Angolan forward Manucho as it took the lead twice in the first half.

Goals from Hosny Abd Rabou and Amr Zaki either side of Manucho’s wonder-goal were enough for victory.

Egypt opened the scoring in the 23^rd minute when Angola captain Andre Macanga leapt out of the wall defending a free kick and had the ball rocket off his arm.

A penalty was awarded for the indiscretion with Abd Rabou making no mistake from the spot for the third time in this tournament.

But Panathinaikos-bound Manucho powered the Palancas Negras back onto level terms three minutes later as he hit a 30-yard shot on the gallop.

The ball swerved in the air to beat Essam El Hadari in flight and find the back of the net.

But Egypt regained the ascendancy in the 38^th minute when Amr Zaki chested in a cross from the right flank after it beat the entire Angola backline.

More through fortune than purpose, Zaki’s contact with the ball looped into the net as he arrived at the back post.

Manucho couldn’t put a touch on the ball to find an equaliser from kick-off in the second half as a closing Egypt defence put on just enough pressure.

The ball skewed wide, Egypt holding out Angola with 2-1 good enough to progress to a semi-final against Ivory Coast.

Angola still leaves the Cup of Nations with its heads high, it won a match in tournament play for the first time as well as progress to the quarter-final.

The Palancas Negras next major assignment will be qualifying for the World Cup, while it is already guaranteed a spot as host of the next Cup of Nations in 2010.

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