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| Egypt 2-0 Algeria: Emad Moteab’s 95th Minute Goal Forces a World Cup Playoff Posted: 14 Nov 2009 01:08 PM PST If you read our African World Cup qualifying finale preview post yesterday, then you knew that Egypt vs Algeria was big. Historic bad feeling, exacerbated by Egyptian fans attacking the Algerian team bus in Cairo big. There was also the beautifully weighted qualification situation in Group C, where Egypt needed to beat Algeria by three goals or more to qualify for World Cup 2010 at Algeria’s expense. A heaving crowd of 75,000 at Cairo International Stadium saw Amr Zaki give Egypt a 1-0 lead in the second minute. Good start, but 1-0 would still see Algeria qualify on goal difference. It stayed 1-0 for the next 90+ minutes, with the Cairo crowd on edge. With time running out and Egypt nearly eliminated, Emad Moteab headed in a 95th minute goal to make it 2-0 and send the stadium wild. The result means Egypt and Algeria finish level on points, level on goal difference at the top of Group C. There’ll be no drawing of lots or any other silliness. Instead there’s going to be a hastily arranged playoff game this Wednesday, November 18th in the neutral venue of Sudan. So that’s one game – none of this two-legs nonsense – to decide who goes to World Cup 2010: Egypt or Algeria. Don’t miss that game. Elsewhere in African qualifying: Cameroon confirmed their spot in South Africa by winning 2-0 in Morocco, but there was huge disappointment for Tunisia, who lost 1-0 to Mozambique while Nigeria beat Kenya 3-2. That result sees Nigeria leapfrog Tunisia to take top spot on Group B and qualify for the World Cup. So the African qualifiers for World Cup 2010 are: South Africa (hosts, but you knew that), Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Nigeria, and… either Algeria or Egypt. We’ll know on Wednesday.        |
| Much Drama and a Missed Penalty Send New Zealand to World Cup Posted: 14 Nov 2009 11:32 AM PST Quick World Cup qualifier coverage update: If you’re watching Ireland vs. France, we have options for partisans on either side, depending on whether you like your coverage with a Gallic accent or a Gaelic one. Our Ireland blog will be doing a liveblog right here (France fans welcome), and our France blog will be hosting an open thread, where you leave your thoughts in the comments. (Ireland fans welcome. But be nice.) Now let’s talk about New Zealand. New Zealand has long been known for their rugby. For their football, though? Not so much. The country’s last World Cup was in 1982. But a goal by New Zealand’s Rory Fallon (video here), and this missed penalty by Bahrain’s Sayed Adnan means the drought is over. And also that New Zealand becomes the first country to ever make the World Cup without having beaten a team with a national population of over 1 million. New Zealand will be the lone representative from Oceania, the only FIFA conference not guaranteed a World Cup slot. In qualifying, the All-Whites had to fight off the opposition from such powerhouses as New Caledona, Fiji and Vanuatu to take the top spot, which they did back in 2008. Then came the long wait while Asian sides fought through their qualifying so NZ could learn who their opponent would be — the fifth-place finisher in the AFC. It was Bahrain. The two sides just finished their home-and-away series to determine who goes to South Africa. The first leg ended 0-0, so it all came down to this match, played before a highly-partisan crowd in Wellington, New Zealand. (When I’m neutral, I love to see a win in a big game before an ecstatic home crowd like this one.) Quote of the match comes from NZ goalkeeper Mark Paston:
Well done, Kiwis. And good luck against the big boys in South Africa. I think you may need it.   |
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It’s the World Cup 2010 qualification finale in Africa this weekend, with three spots at the big show still up for grabs. 
With 23 nations already qualified for World Cup 2010, there are just nine places in South Africa still up for grabs. Three of those will be decided when African qualifying concludes next Wednesday. But that’s a separate post. The six other qualifiers will be decided by playoffs, starting tomorrow.
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