Egypt on the way to qualify to 2010 World Cup in South Africa
The Pharaohs of Egypt maintained their hopes of reaching the 2010 World Cup by beating Rwanda 3-0 at the Military Academy Stadium on Sunday in a rescheduled Group C clash.
Victory in the encounter, postponed due to the Pharaohs’ participation in the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa last month, pushes the African champions to second place on Group C standings on four points, three points adrift of leaders, Algeria.
Midfielder Mohamed Aboutreika netted a brace and Hosni Abd-Rabou scored the other as a spirited second half second half performance landed the Pharaohs the maximum points.
With victory the only option to maintaining their World Cup ambitions, the Egyptians discovered their scoring boots in the second half to make victory a certainty against the Amavubis whose striker Harouna Niyonzima blew off their best chance earlier in the first half.
Aboutreika broke the deadlock on 65 minutes by heading home Abd-Rabou’s cross, before the latter converted from the spot 11 minutes later after Ahmed Raouf had been fouled in the penalty area.
The Ahly midfielder wrapped up victory and his second of the game in added on time by tapping in from Ahmed Eid’s cross following a successful counter led by Abd-Rabou.
The results keep the Rwandans at the bottom of the standings on just a point from three games.
The Pharaohs will trek to Kigali as guests of the Amavubis in the reverse fixture on September 5.
