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Published: Sunday November 15, 2009 MYT 6:30:00 AM
Updated: Sunday November 15, 2009 MYT 11:15:21 AM

Egypt beats Algeria 2-0 in WCup qualifier

CAIRO (AP): Emad Meteab headed in a goal in the fifth minute of injury time on Saturday to give Egypt a 2-0 win over Algeria in a World Cup qualifier, setting up a decisive playoff between the two teams next week.

Amr Zaki gave Egypt the lead in the second minute, but the host needed a second goal to ensure that both teams ended up level on points and goal difference in Group C.

The two sides will play again Wednesday in Sudan, with the winner advancing to the finals in South Africa next year.

In 1989, the two faced off in a similar final qualifier, and Egypt won, advancing to the 1990 World Cup in Italy. After that match in Cairo, fans clashed in the stadium and in the streets, and the Egyptian team's doctor lost an eye when he was hit by a bottle.

Egyptian fans greeted the Algerian team at the airport on Thursday by pelting their bus with stones and Algerian officials said two team members were injured. On Saturday, both Khaled Lemmouchia and Rafik Halliche wore head bandages while playing.

The head of the Algerian Football Association blamed the loss on the animosity.

"We played under war-like conditions," Mohammad Rawrawa said. "It was difficult to perform well but we will win on Wednesday in Sudan because the atmosphere will be calmer."

Zaki said he was relieved to have scored after a dry spell since March.

"The important thing is that I do the same thing on Wednesday," he told reporters.

Algerian fans posted Internet clips mocking the Egyptian players by giving them the faces of famous Egyptian actresses and belly dancers.

Special forces, counterterrorism squads and plainclothes agents were deployed in and around the 80,000-seat stadium. Police searched fans entering the stadium. Sharp objects, cans and glass bottles were banned.

Fireworks lit up the sky over the stadium and Egyptians took to the streets, celebrating with dancing, honking car horns and lighting flares. In downtown Cairo, fans meeting to watch the game erupted with joy after Egypt's second goal and shouted anti-Algerian chants.

Egypt, a record six-time winner of the African Cup, hasn't reached the World Cup since 1990. The last time Algeria played in the World Cup was in 1986.

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