Daily Archives: January 20, 2010

Egypt 2 – 0 Benin

Leave a reply


“Defending champions Egypt completed their Group C campaign with a third win from three as first-half goals from Ahmed El Mohamady and Emad Moteab ensured Benin’s elimination from the competition. Benin needed to win and for Nigeria to lose to stand any chance of progressing but Egypt scored through El Mohamady’s fortunate goal after only eight minutes to ensure that was never likely. Moteab squeezed home a second from a tight angle but despite plenty of chances there were no further goals.” (ESPN)

Egypt 2-0 Benin
“An impressive Egypt take a convincing 100% record into the next round after easily beating Benin. Ahmed Al Muhammadi’s cross somehow drifted its way into the net to put The Pharaohs ahead. Emad Moteab made it 2-0 after 24 minutes – the linesman ruling the ball over the line despite goalkeeper Yoann Djidonou’s best efforts to clear.” (BBC)

Super Eagles seal quarter final place
“A brace from Peter Odemwingie scored either side of half-time proved the key for Nigeria as they sealed a place in the quarter-finals of the African Nations Cup with a win over Mozambique. The Lokomotiv Moscow forward scored in the 45th and 48th minutes, before substitute Obafemi Martins sealed victory with a late strike to hand under-fire Shaibu Amodu a welcome boost.” (ESPN)

African Nations Cup – 2010
(ESPN)

Volatile mix of soccer and politics

Leave a reply

“When Angola tied Algeria 0-0 on Monday in Luanda to finish first in Group A of the African Cup of Nations, it was cause for celebrations throughout most of Angola. Wherever you go in Luanda, the capital, you’ll see locals wearing the national-team colors of red, black and yellow. Angola shirts, scarves and flags are everywhere there; TV and radio broadcasts talk soccer around the clock. Billboards proclaim that Angola, which ended a 27-year civil war in 2002, can unite through soccer.” (SI)

The Illustrated Possibilities for Good American Soccer Writing in the Internet Age

Leave a reply

“Do we want to read ‘interesting and entertaining stories well told’ about soccer? I presume the answer to that is pretty obvious: hell yes. This is the same presumption that J Hutcherson at US Soccer Players ends a very interesting piece about the state of American soccer writing with:…” (Pitch Invasion)

Liverpool v Spurs: Has-Been’s Versus Wannabe’s

Leave a reply


“Tonight sees Liverpool and Tottenham go head-to-head in the latest battle between the contenders for fourth spot. If week 22 matches were anything to go by then all teams are doing their best to give the priceless spot to someone else. Liverpool’s average display against Stoke is a microcosm of their ‘pants on the ground’ season, with performances lacking sharpness, imagination and concentration (not bad luck) in dropping points in key Premier League and Champions League games.” (EPL Talk)

Adriano was greeted like a returning emperor and he delivered

Leave a reply

“In his first game after rejoining Flamengo, Adriano’s mere presence put an extra 50,000 on the gate. “The emperor has returned,” they chanted – and the 27-year-old striker was looking imperious from day one. His 19 goals – which made him the competition’s joint-top scorer – and his all-round attacking play were vital to the Rio de Janeiro club ending a 17-year wait to win the Brazilian Championship.” (Worlk Soccer – Tim Vickery)

The Last Time That Manchester City Made A Cup Semi-Final…

Leave a reply

“History, it has been said many times, is written by the victors. It’s a thought that may pass through the heads of some older Manchester City supporters during their League Cup semi-final against Manchester United at The City of Manchester Stadium this evening. It is a scarcely believable twenty-nine years since the blue half of Manchester made so much as the semi-final of a major competition. Much has happened to City since then, but what is often forgotten in the fog of history is just how close they came to winning the 1981 FA Cup and what sort of a difference to the club such a win may have made. There would certainly have been few that would have confidently predicted in 1981 that the club would not get as close again to winning a trophy in the next three decades.” (twohundredpercent)