Before the match
Three teams are dominating
this group with similar results, all three undefeated: Senegal, Egypt,
and Morocco. Algeria only have a minimal chance: they will have to defeat
Morocco today, Egypt at home and Namibia away later, and they still will
depend on appropriate results in the other matches. This chance is indeed
a slim one. The country is shaken by an ethnic uproar and the national
team in the middle of a coaching switch. Anyway they will not like to lose
this prestigeous match against their neighbours.
While Ali Benarbia returns
to the team, Bilal Dziri will be absend due to a longer injury and Moussa
Saib will miss out because of injury, too.
The normal result of this
match, according to what has been played in the other matches, would be
a draw. Can Morocco win, they will have an edge over Senegal, concerning
comparable results. If they lose it will be the other way round. Moroccos
chances have been marred by reports that Mustapha Hadji, their key midfield
player and African Footballer of the year 1998, will not be available for
the match. Due to a BBC report he has been harshly criticised by home fans
and media, what seems another strange as to The Shot's opinion he had been
one of the strongest players in recent matches. The expectations seem very
high in Morocco and the idea of automatic wins against such strong opponents
as there are in this group, unrealistic. Hadji had been indeed booed by
some home fans after he could not convert a penalty against Namibia, but
had patiently continued to play in a match Morocco eventually won by a
three goal margin.
(A little ironic addition
to the recent history of the Atlas Lions: at about the same time the new
team of former coach Henri Michel, the United Arab Emirates, are trying
to gain back ground in a close preliminary group after their World Cup
campaign had started with a stunning 0:1 loss to India. They lead Brunei
1:0 after 25 minutes in a match that is expected to deliver a clear result
anyway).
1st half
- Algeria in white, Morocco
in green shorts, green shirts, and red stocking, the ground is wet as it
had been raining
-('2) Algeria: a corner,
and #18 Saifi heads against the crossbar
-an inspired beginning
by Algeria
-('7) Benzikri, the Moroccan
keeper, makes an error controlling the ball, it costs a corner as the ball,
which had been played back by an defender, rolls wide
-('9) a long ball on
Tasfaout, who fires immediately from 16 meters, the keeper deflects the
ball, but it takes a curve into the goal - 1:0
-('15) Morocco have more
control now, trying to keep the ball by passing it around
-('17) a free kick cross
from the right, the Algerian defence looks already bad in their first attempt,
Camacho shoots what would have gone wide, instead of letting the ball go
out or playing it to the outside an Algerian defender (#4Meniri) fires
it back into the field right central in front of the goal where only Moroccan
attackers are located, one (#2 Ben Mahmout?) takes it direct and scores
- 1:1
-('26) Algeria has found
back into the game and most of the action takes place in the Moroccan half
again
-('28) after some half chances
Algeria almost forces an own goal when a deflected cross sails only narrowly
across the bar with the keeper beaten
-('38) during the last 10
minutes the match has been balanced with no real chances
-'(41) Algeria: fine attack,
after a one-two Belmadi fires from 18 meters, but wide
halftime 1:1
a partly inspired Algerian
attacking contrasted by a schematic Morrocan game, ewhich is lacking the
unexpected moves of Mustapha Hadji, But Morocco can build on a solid defending
while Algeria appears very vulnarable here.
2nd half
-('48) Morocco:
a mistimed and seemingly harmless cross from the right gets apparently
misjudged by the keeper and sails into the goal at the second goal post,
a second gift to Morocco - 1:2
-Is a dull Moroccan performance
enough to conquer three valuable points against Algerians who have spoiled
their efforts by ibndividual errors? - this hasn't even been a chance...
-'('52) an Algerian attacker
achieves not to head the ball into the deserted goal but sidewards instead
-('55) Algeria pressure
the Moroccan goal, but Benzikri makes a giant save against a short range
shot
-('58) Algeria: a dangerous
diagonal shot (#7) after a short played corner is deflected by a defender
for another corner kick
-Algeria make some mistakes
in build up which could trigger a dangerous counter attack sooner or alter
-('68) half chance for Tasfaout,
keeper saves
-it is hard work for
Algeria to play out chances against this Moroccan defence, the keep trying
relentlessly anyway - a hardfought but yet very fair match
-('73) Algeria: Ali Benarbia
gets substituted - the crowd doesn't seem to like it
-('75) Algerians lose ball
in build up and it is a two against two situation for Morocco. It results
in a corner which then brings a Camacho header which goes wide.
-('81) it gets more and
more difficult for Algeria as the rain has restarted and attacking becomes
less precise with the growing tiredness, set pieces are the biggest threat
now
-('injoury time) by accident
Algeria has a last? opportunity but #11 who steps into a cross tips the
ball wide
final score 1:2
the Moroccan catenaccio
has withdstood all Algerian efforts to score a second goal. Algeria have
defeated themselves by two defensive blunders while Morocco has not shown
anything in attack. |
Zusammenfassung
in Deutsch ]
