Mphela snatches South Africa victory
Reuters - Saturday 26 March 2011, 20:32
JOHANNESBURG - South Africa striker
Katlego Mphela struck with the last kick of the match to secure
a 1-0 win over Egypt that leaves the defending champions on the
verge of elimination from the African Nations Cup qualifiers.
Mphela struck an angled effort past veteran goalkeeper Essam
Al Hadari three minutes into added time to give South Africa a
second win in Group G and leave Egypt floundering at the bottom
with just one point at the halfway stage of the campaign.
South Africa, who have seven points from three games, have
opened a six-point gap over the Egyptians, who have won the last
three Nations Cups but now find themselves in deep trouble in
their bid to qualify for the 2012 finals.
The goal came from only the second shot by South Africa, who
were held at bay by a stout Egyptian defence until a through
ball from full-back Anele Ngcogca in the 93rd minute put Mphela
clear and he shot across the keeper into the corner of the net.
Egypt, although playing defensively, created several half
chances in the game and Mohamed Nagui, whose exploits as a
substitute helped Egypt to victory in last year's Nations Cup in
Angola, somehow put a chance wide from a corner with the goal at
his mercy shortly after coming on in the second half.
The teams meet again in Cairo in the next round of
qualifiers in the four-team group in June.
The 11 group winners
qualify for the finals, to be co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and
Gabon, along with the three best second-placed finishers.