Warriors tamed by Pharoahs

Warriors tamed by Pharoahs

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By Amr Shaheen

ZIMBABWE'S preparations for their 2006 World Cup and Cup of Nations qualifiers took a knock on Monday evening as they went down 2-0 to Egypt in Cairo.

Al Ahly strikers Mohamed Abu Treka and Osama Hosny scored both goals in the second half.

Treka opened the scoring with a half-volley sturck off a cross by his club-mate, while Hosny converted a penalty to score his first goal for Egypt.

The game also marked the 162nd international appearance of captain and veteran striker Hossam Hassan, who failed to complete the game.

Both Hassan and Hazem Emam were substituted by manager Marco Tardelli.

"The players were exhausted. I can not blame them," said Tardelli, defending his players.

Fielding a total of 21 players for the match, the Pharaohs failed to find their rhythm in the first half against an experimental Zimbabwean side consisting of locally-based players.

Although they were unable to score, the Zimbabweans surprised their hosts with their harmony and speed.

The Southern Africans came close to scoring and Sageby Sandaka had their best chance but failed to find the target.

At the other end, Zimbabwe goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini made a superb reflex save from a close-range shot taken by Hassan.

Egypt will play another preparatory game against Gabon on Saturday before they play their opening World Cup qualifier against Sudan on 6 June.

Gabon will host Zimbabwe in a World Cup qualifier being played that weekend.
Match report courtesy of BBC Sport
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