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by theshot (2006-02-11 00:12:42)
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MATCHES AND RESULTS > FINAL Tags: Egypt
Final: Egypt - Côte d'Ivoire 0:0 n.V. Elfm.:4:2
Another of those close finals of a Nations Cup that had to be settled on penalty kicks.
Both teams had begun concentrated and focussed with defenders having the last word in the beginning.
Increasingly throughout the match the scene opened up and the chances became more and bigger.
Had Egypt had the edge in possession in the binginning, the Ivorians took over from the middle of the second half on.
In the end the Ivorians had about double as many shot attempts as the hosts.
The brightest chance of the first 90 minutes had been for Drogba who had taken a low cross directly but scooped it over the bar from 6 meters out.
For those who love to reduce matches on single events later the game had two more spectacular events:
The first was a fluke, when an Egyptian goal after a goalkeeping error was ruled out for offside after 85 minutes. It only had been a topic because some reporters and apparently the TV director had missed the clear signal by the referee.
In extra time after 95 minutes the referee decided for a penalty for Egypts, satisfying the klischees of preferring the hosts.
Damage was limited because the penalty could not be converted as Ahmed Hassan hit only the goalpost.
He did different in the penalty shoot out. Though one Egyptian penalty flew wide, Egypt won thanks to keeper Hadary who parried two Ivorian penalty in great manor.
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by theshot (2006-02-09 20:17:24)
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MATCHES AND RESULTS > 3rd place playoff Tags: Nigeria
3rd place playoff: Nigeria - Senegal 1:0(0:0)
Two teams with a different approach:
While Nigeria, apart from injuries, fielded their best eleven, Senegal took the opportunity to give stage to all players from the second row.
But who had thought that, two days after the semi-final, the Senegalese thus would have the edge in the second half, was proved wrong:
Nigeria wanted to win and eventually outplayed the Senegalese.
the goal was scored by Lawal.
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by theshot (2006-02-07 21:41:03)
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MATCHES AND RESULTS > SEMI FINALS Tags: Egypt
Semifinal #2 Egypt - Senegal 2:1(1:0)
When teams of different style encounter each other, it is often a more lively, nicer to watch game and so this one was more entertaining to the more superficial view than the first semi final.
Senegal had developed a relatively tight grip on the match when suddenly Mendy played hand in his own penalty area.
Ahmed Hassan converted the penalty, though his first successful effort had been annulled because an Egyptian had run prematurely into the box.
In the 51st minute Senegal scored the equalizer when a long cross found Mamadou Niang who perfectly headed against the direction of ball and keeper.
A seesaw battle with equal chances followed until the 80th minute when the Egyptian coach substituted star Mido. An open controversy between both broke out at the sideline.
It seemed to have costed Senegal more concentration because the lions allowed a run down the left and a perfect cross to find ironically substitute Zaki, who headed in for the 2:1.
Senegal risked all and opened spaces for the Egyptians who had several huge opportunities after counter attacks.
In the 90thminute the referee refused to give a Senegalese a penalty after a situation in which probably 8 of 10 refrees had whistled.
Senegal had a last chance after 94 minutes (wide).
Eventually Senegal lost, like in the group matches, because of concentration lapses in defence, and a modest goal production, what rescaled their otherwise sophisticated performance.
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by theshot (2006-02-07 21:40:22)
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MATCHES AND RESULTS > SEMI FINALS Tags: Côte d'Ivoire
Semifinal #1 Nigeria - Côte d'Ivoire 0:1(0:0)
The 'Elefants' proved their flexibility with a different approach and setup.
The consequence: a less physical but more creative game of the two teams (compared to the Cameroon - CIV match).
The Nigerians, because of player material and style a little less flexible, have their attacking strengths in departments which collide with Ivorian strengths rather than their weaknesses. They stick to their typical 'brazilian' style, keeping the match open and strike in a sudden moment of brilliance.
This did not work out in the first half and so the Côte d'Ivoire had the clear majority of penalty area visits, still most of them could be contained as half dangerous by the Nigerian defence.
A long ball on Drogba surprised the Nigerians in the 47th minute. The Chelsea striker escaped and scored - 0:1
Nigeroia threw in Okocha who created some more dangerous situations. The idea to keep Nigeria with all their weapons scoreless seems ridiculous and the Ivorians drew too far back for some moments.
But they escaped a number of crossing attempts and a dangerous free kick situation and towards the end of the match improved very much on ball and time control.
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by theshot (2006-02-05 01:29:09)
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MATCHES AND RESULTS > QUARTER FINALS Tags: Côte d'Ivoire
quarterfinal #4 Cameroun - Côte d'Ivoire 1:1(0:0)(0:0) n.V. , E: 11:12
After a match in which the two sides neutralized each other except from a sudden eruption in extra-time. A penalty shoot-out to remember rounded up what was a tough battle of two African giants on the same level.
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by theshot (2006-02-05 01:21:06)
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MATCHES AND RESULTS > QUARTER FINALS Tags: Egypt
quarterfinal #2 Egypt - Congo DR 4:1(2:1)
The match of this Nations Cup for football romantics. Two teams which knew their strengths (attacking) and weaknesses (defence). The consequence: Everybody tried to score as many goals as possible.
Heroic the attempts of the Congolese after the 1:3. Attack after attack branded towards the Egyptian goal, and each one dangerous but eventually unlucky.
At last the greater balance of the Egyptian team paid off with a result that was a little cynical.
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by theshot (2006-02-05 01:19:58)
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MATCHES AND RESULTS > QUARTER FINALS Tags: Senegal
quarterfinal #1 Guinea - Senegal 2:3(1:0)
A match of two relatively similar teams, and a local derby, though on Egyptian soil. A match of tough physical challenges, igniting tensions occasionally.
In the first half Guinea had a slight edge in midfield first.
But the first goal eventually resulted from unconcentrated build up by the Senegal defence who were twice stripped off the ball by consequently attacking Guinean forwards.
The first scene resulted in an offside goal but the second situation counted.
Already at the end of the first half the turnaround began.
Senegal increasingly were able to create chances though concentrated defending by the Guineans (except the keeper who spilled a number of balls again).
In difference to the group matches they were able to convert their superiority into goals, not at last thanks substitute Niang who scored twice.
Feinduno did have a chance to score the 2:2 but struck wide. His fine freekick (2:3) came too late.
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by theshot (2006-01-29 20:53:22)
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MATCHES AND RESULTS > GROUP B Tags: Angola
Group B #6 Angola - Togo 3:2(2:1)
Angola again was the superior team in organisation and coherence. But 3 points spoilt their concept:
the missing of chances, a vulnerable defence and the tournement bug, offside refereeing.
Angola, despite of their scoring problems 1:0 in the lead through Flavio ('9), scored a perfect second goal, but Akwa, who had been onside by two meters, instead of gratulations received a yellow card by the referee. And in the direct counter attack Togo capitalized from an error in the Angolan defence to equalize (Coubadja, '24)
Short after Togo became reduced to 10 men thanks to a second yellow card against.
A déjà vu for Angola, who had not been able to convert a similar situation in their last group match.
But this time they took the lead again through Flavio who scored hois second in the 39th minute.
At halftime it looked likely goal difference would play a deciding role between Angola and Congo DR in the race for the second place in the group with Angola half a goal behind.
But Angola lost shape and Togo embarassed their defence several times and even scored the equalizer.
Out of nothing Angola retook the lead after 85 minutes (Maurito).
Togo opened up now and both teams were in superior number on each attack with proimising situations especially for Angola.
But Angola played them too nervous and hectical.
When in the 90th minute 4 Angolans ran towards the goalkeeper with the ball this huge chance was cancelled by an again wrong offside call.
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by theshot (2006-01-29 20:51:29)
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MATCHES AND RESULTS > GROUP B Tags: Cameroon
Group B #5 Cameroon - Congo DR 2:0(2:0)
Congo started the match drawn back only to run fast attacks on the few losses of possessions by the Cameroon team, which, already qualified for the quarter finals, had been changed on several positions.
A mistake as Cameroon patiently and comfortably passed the ball around to wait on their opportunities.
And one of their strengths, set pieces, brought the lead after 30 minutes through a 25 meter free kick (Geremi '31).
Against the now unsettled Congolese defence a quick second goal by Eto'o put the Central Africas with their backs to the wall.
At halftime it looked likely goal difference would play a deciding role between Angola and Congo DR in the race for the second place in the group with Congo DR a half goalin the lead.
The game became more quiet but Eto'o still with several attempts, playing as if this was his personal World Cup.
A horrible kick against his opponent on the ground brought the Congolese Bokese the red card and was of a kind that should have more juridical implications than limited on the sports sector.
The rest of the match was 'unfortunate' as neither team attempted to score anymore.
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by theshot (2006-01-29 20:41:53)
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MATCHES AND RESULTS > GROUP D Tags: Nigeria
Group D#4 Nigeria - Zimbabwe 2:0(0:0)
Back when Brazil became World champions in 2002, nearly each of their opponents later had had the impression to have had their best match of the tournament against Ronaldo&Co..
The South Americans had seldom tried to suffocate their 'match partners' game and simply won by the superiority of their art.
This match (Nigeria - Zimbabwe) reminded this story: Nigeria, unlike Guinea, Ghana,or Senegal, did not concentrate on containing their opponents but rather on their own attempts to create chances.
The consequence: Zimbabwe had a good game with several welldrawn attacks and a handful of chances themselves.
When Nigeria reshuffled their setup with two substitutions and different player types in Kanu and young star Obi Mikel, eventually it was too much for the Southern African resistance and Nigeria forced two goals in style to decide the match (Obodo '57, Mikel '61).
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by theshot (2006-01-27 17:33:53)
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MATCHES AND RESULTS > GROUP D Tags: Ghana
Group D #3 Ghana - Senegal 1:0(1:0)
In the first minutes it looked as if Senegal were the stringer team. But early problems in their defence became evident and the early 1:0 changed the course of the match.
Ghana with the same strategie but a much more attacking type formation than in the first match. With the lead their confidence grew and with it the number of good fast attacks after winning the ball.
The Senegalese had been sleeping at a Ghanaian throw in (no, there is no offside at throw ins) and Sylva allowed Amoah to score from which it would have been impossible without the help of the keeper. ('14)
In the second half Senegal became dangerous with some fast attacks.
In the 62nd minute a pathetic play acting by Kingston led to two red cards, one against the Senegalese Baye and one against Kingston himself.
Ghana now drew back completely and defended with all men.
Senegal pressured and had several promising situations but without being able to score.
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by theshot (2006-01-27 16:15:31)
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MATCHES AND RESULTS > GROUP C Tags: Tunisia
Group C #4 Tunisia - South Africa 2:0(1:0)
In pouring rain, South Africa could not establish their strategy, and the greater width of tools spoke for the North Africans, who also profited again from the 'FC Santos' effect.
The striker scored early in the game, a goal that was reverted by a questionable offside decision.
South Africa exactly had one big opportunity to turn the game, when McCarthy and Zuma stripped the ball off Jaidi deep in the Tunisian half, but McCarthy only hit the goalpost.
It was McCarthy, too, who mispassed the ball to Santos who did not hesitat to fire the ball through the arms of the surprised keeper for Tunisia to take the lead.
After Ben Achours 2:0 after 58 minutes the game was practically over.
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by theshot (2006-01-27 16:04:13)
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MATCHES AND RESULTS > GROUP C Tags: Guinea
Group C #3 Zambia - Guinea 1:2(1:0)
Guinea did not operate as careful as in the first match, still it was enough to contain the Zambians in the beginning.
But feeling safe they lost concentraion at a corner late in the first half and Tana scored with a direct header for Zambia to take the lead.
The second half then displayed the two worlds of the Guinean game: strong challengers they stripped off the ball from the Zambians in almost any one on one situation only to lose it again through inaccurate passing and shots far off target.
Conspicious here Mansare, quick fast, good ball control but eventually crosses into the Egyptian sky. Ironically it was him who was fouled for the penalty that turned the things late into the second half.
With Feindunou that player scored both goals, who seemed the one player not infected from the inaccurate playing style.
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