Egypt has defeated Nigeria 3-2 in a crunchy friendly that went into extra time.
Goals by:
Egypt’s Goals: Ahmed Temsah 25′, Mohamed Abou-Treika 33′(P), Ahmed Hassan Mekki 95′
Nigeria’s goals: Snday Mba 13′, Uche Kalu 43′
Watch all the goals here:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaRRvC-dj3M[/youtube]
Interview with ElMohamady after the match:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHrBLhhyMhM[/youtube]
An injury-time winner from Ahmed Hassan Mekki on Thursday gave Egypt a 3-2 win over a star-less Nigeria side in Dubai.
The Super Eagles’ local boys had a stunning beginning, with Sunday Mba breaking the deadlock after 13 minutes. Uche Kalu dribbled along the right flank, playing a back pass to Mba whose deflected shot wrong-footed keeper Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed to put his side ahead.
The Pharaohs responded through Ahmed Temsah, who controlled Hossam Ghaly’s long ball inside the area to lob the keeper in the 25th minute.
Eight minutes later, Mohamed Abou-Treika converted a penalty kick after left-back Mohamed Abdel-Shafi was fouled in the area to give Egypt a first-time lead.
Turning from provider to scorer, Kalu hit the shaky Pharaohs’ defence, sliding in the equaliser from close range only three minutes before the break.
Coach Bob Bradley made a host of changes at the interval, but the seven-time African champions failed to live up to their reputation against a lively and motivated Nigerian side.
Stephen Keshi’s men kept Egypt’s backline on their toes, especially with several spaces left at the back as players rushed up front.
With the experience of skipper Ahmed Hassan, Abou-Treika, Ahmed Elmohamady and Emad Meteb, the Pharaohs controlled the match, maintaining pressure until they clinched the winner in the game’s final seconds.
A quick and short exchange of passes on the edge of the area between Meteb, Elmohamady and Mekki left the latter clear for a left-foot shot that went through the bottom right side of the keeper.
Egypt are set to play against Iraq on 17 April before returning home.
