where?  Algiers
Reuters: 'attendance: 50000'

match report by: The Shot That Passed Right Through The Net
 

Algeria began eagerly attacking and impressed by good (one-or-two-touch-) combinations getting the Tunisian defence in some troubles. Most conspicious the Algerian Etoile du Sahel (one of the premier Tunisian clubs) player Dziri.   The Tunisian players meanwhile waited for the counter-attack but individually kept or had to keep the ball to long. Anyway the Algerian defence did not look as concentrated as the Tunisians.  After Algeria squandered their best opportunities, one by bad crossing and the best one in a one-to-one situation against the goalkeeper, Tunisia answered with a brilliant counter-attack this time and a cross-ball from baseline into the back of the home-hurrying defence. Rouissi easily scored from about 10 meters a few minutes before halftime.  In the second half Tunisia of course did not change their rather defensive attitude.  Algeria more and more drifted away from their combination game and tried long balls against the well formated Tunisian eleven. It looked all like Tunisia gained more and more control. As the homecrowd seemed to turn against their own team in the final minutes of the match the before running and fighting Algerian players seemed to lose all the rest of their confidence. When suddenly two major errors in the Tunisian defence opened up huge opportunities, both were a bit overanxiously blown by replacement player #7.  After two lost matches the troubled Algerians are with their backs against the wall once more when they could use some emotional boost so badly. Tunisia, who neither fielded Ben Slimane, nor Ayadi Hamrouni, nor Adel Sellimi, by two narrow wins put themselves already in a pole position from which it appears to be easy. But there are still difficult tasks ahead.

THIS DOCUMENT IS PART OF: AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS 2000

A COMPONENT OF: THE SHOT THAT PASSED RIGHT THROUGH THE NET

© THE SHOT THAT PASSED RIGHT THROUGH THE NET