Egypt made to sweat for Libya win

Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy

Friday Oct 08, 2021. 23:19

Egypt were made to sweat in their 1-0 win over Libya in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Group F match at the Borg El Arab Stadium on Friday night.

As a result, the Pharaohs climbed to the top of the group standings, while the Mediterranean Knights slipped down to second place ahead of Monday’s encounter between the two teams in Libya.

The Pharaohs were looking to bounce back to winning ways in Group F after drawing 1-1 with Gabon away last month, while the Mediterranean Knights edged out Angola 1-0 away.

Despite their attack being led by world-class attacker Mohamed Salah, Egypt were frustrated by the Libyan defence and the hosts struggled to create clear cut chances with visitors defending very well at the back in the opening exchanges.

The Mediterranean Knights looked dangerous whenever they pushed forward and Ahmed El Trbi forced goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy into a decent save with a header, before Mohamed Zaabia’s shot hit the post with the hosts’ defence exposed.

This served as a wake-up call for the Pharaohs, who piled pressure after the half-hour mark and they were awarded a free-Kick in a promising area, but Salah’s attempt from the set-piece was well-saved by keeper Mohamed Nashnush and the score was 0-0 at half-time.

The Pharaohs continued to put pressure on the visitors’ defence after the restart and they broke the deadlock when Mohamed Marmoush scored on his debut for Egypt as he turned, before unleashing a powerful shot which beat Nashnush to make it 1-0 to the hosts in the 49th minute.

Forward Hamdou Elhouni, who is on the books of Tunisian football powerhouse Esperance de Tunis, was among substitutes that were introduced by Libya coach Javier Clemente as the visitors looked to level matters and preserve their unbeaten record in Group F.

The momentum was the Pharaohs in the closing proceedings and Nashnush had to pull off good saves to deny Marmoush and Mostafa Mohamed with Egypt coach Carlos Queiroz having introduced speedy attacker Ramadan Sobhi.

However, the hosts could not add to their solitary goal and ultimately, the game ended in a 1-0 victory in favour of Egypt as they grabbed the North African Derby bragging rights.

Egypt 1 (Marmoush 49′)

Libya 0

Egypt: Shenawy, Hegazy, El-Winch, Ak.Tawfik (Fathy 90’+3), Fatouh, Neny, El-Sulaya (Fathi 90’+3), El-Said (Hamed 69′), Marmoush (Sobhi 77′), Salah, Mohamed (Kouka 90’+2).

Libya: Nashnoush, Alshreef, Sabbou, Al Warfalli, Al Trbi (El Badri 53′), El Munir, Al Khoja (Eisa 59′), Al Musrati, Ellafi (El Tarhoni 72′), Soula (Al Hadi 52′), Zubya (El Houni 59′).