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Durban 2009: Extra time decides day three games

07-04-2009

Durban 2009: Extra time decides day three games

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Cote d'Ivoire joined Nigeria, Senegal and Egypt in Saturday's semi-finals at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2009 Qualifier Durban on Friday when they beat South Africa 7-6 after extra-time match on the final day of pool matches at the tournament.

With all three games on Friday relevant in deciding semi-final positions, all three needed extra time to decide a winner. Nigeria opened the day by edging past Egypt 6-5, before Senegal did the same to Mozambique in a low-scoring 3-2 victory.

The disappointment for Egypt was tempered somewhat at the end of the day because they still sneaked into the playoffs by virtue of being the best second-placed finisher on goal difference.

South Africa needed a three-goal win to go into the semi-finals and did better than most expected to keep the pressure on the talented Cote d'Ivoire, but other than a brief time ahead in the first period, the hosts were always playing catch up.

After the teams were locked at 5-5 at the end of normal time, Thomas Ehounou sank South African hearts when he netted twice in the extra three-minute period to destroy the home-town hopes.

Nduduzo Phakathi gave the supporters a smidgen of hope with 46 seconds left as he wrapped up his hat-trick, but there was no fairytale and South Africa were consigned to third in their group.

South Africa started strongly, making their intent known from the kick-off when Thando Mthembu flashed a shot goalwards, but it was the 2006 Player of the tournament, Frederic Aka, of Cote d'Ivoire who opened the scoring a minute into the game when he drove a long-range effort into the bottom corner.

But the Ivorean joy was short lived as Nduduzo Phakathi smashed an equaliser from the kick off. South Africa went ahead for the only time in the game a minute later thanks to a potent Mthembu volley, and South African hopes of the victory were up.

But the incredible leg speed of Aka soon brought then back to earth. He doubled his and the team's tally midway through the period after his sand-spraying dancing shuffle confused Prince Gumede, and the defender allowed Aka too much space to tie the scores once more.

South Africa's spirit was there to see when Francis Cele equalised from the spot after he was brought down on the right flank to leave the scores 3-3 at the first break.

After the six goals from the first period there were just one apiece in the middle stanza as first Ehounou scored his second and then Cele turned and volleyed to leave the scores level going into the final 12-minute period.

It was much the same in the final period as South Africa once again had to fight back after Aka smashed home a free kick before Phakathi turned in Kinsey Lowell's drive's to level matters a minute before the final whistle.

In the day's opening match, Nigeria edged Egypt following a huge controversy and it was probably justice that both teams went through to the semi-finals.

The game simmered along for two periods with both teams struggling to gain a meaningful advantage and the referees were called on to make some big decisions, but none were bigger than the controversial goal/no goal farce which came a minute from the end, with the scores locked at 5-5.

Egyptian keeper Mohamed Issa clearly stopped the ball from spinning across his line, but referee Nuwer Kumar signalled a goal to the horror of the Egyptians and the delight of the Nigerians and their legion of supporters. Justice, as controversial as it was, was done when the decision was reversed, seemingly on the evidence of a video replay from the third referee, Mohammed Ibrahim.

The Nigerians claimed foul in no uncertain terms, but the decision stood and the match continued to extra time, when Nigerian Isiaka Olawale slipped the ball into the net with about 90 seconds to go before a penalty shootout.

In the second game it was once more extra-time as Senegal, who were never ahead in the game until Niang Habib netted in the second minute of extra time, were rewarded for their patience.

Despite trailing for most of the match, Senegal calmly stuck to their game plan of feeding the ball to their tall trio of front runners and earned a tough clash with Nigeria on Saturday in what should in reality probably be the tournament final.

Mozambique enjoyed a two-goal advantage at the end of the first period thanks to goals from Morgado Balate and crowd favourite Betinho Matlombe, but that was as far as their joy went.

Senegal managed to pull one back in the second period via a penalty by Habib, but only after it had to be retaken when goalkeeper Pedro Barca moved off his line before Habib blasted way over the top.

The 2-1 scoreline going into the final 12 minutes should have been 2-2 but for Barca, who pulled off a superb double save in the second period. First he parried Jean Koupaki's penalty and then saved again as Koupaki followed up.

But eventually Ndour Mourtaba managed to get the equaliser with five minutes of normal time left to take the match into the extra period.

Results

Group C

Egypt 10 - 3 Mauritius

Group B

Senegal 3 - 2 Mozambique (a.e.t.)

Group A

Cote d'Ivoire 7 - 6 Morocco

RESULTS

Gabon