Durban 2009: Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria in final -

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Durban 2009: Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria in final

07-04-2009

Durban 2009: Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria in final

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Semi-final day at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2009 Qualifier Durban on Saturday dished up two thrilling matches which finally ended with Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire securing their places in Sunday's final -- but probably more importantly they also both qualified for the World Cup finals in Dubai in November.

In the first match Nigeria came from three goals down to edge past Senegal 7-6, and then, just when spectators though that spectacle could not be bettered, Cote d'Ivoire overcame a disastrous first period to oust Egypt in a penalty shootout after the teams ended the regulation time at 8-8.

The vagaries of beach soccer were perfectly displayed in the second semi-final when Ivorean Kevin Enam went from villain to hero who clinched victory for Cote d'Ivoire.

In a match that ebbed and flowed more than the sea which was lying 50 metres away, Cote d'Ivoire beat Egypt 4-3 in a penalty shootout.

Goalkeeper Enam was the toast of Cote d'Ivoire after the match when he saved Ahmed Hany's spotkick which secured the win, but earlier he was the rogue of the team after he cruelly had the difficulties of playing soccer on the beach highlighted. In the first period he was beaten by two shots, from Almoataz Elahalim and Ahmed Ahmed, both of which bounced bizarrely off the uneven sand and beat the keeper within three minutes of the kickoff.

The well organised and slick Egyptians were given a further boost they could not have dreamed of a couple of minutes later. Inspirational Cote d'Ivoire star and playmaker Frederic Aka was yellow carded for stupidly trying to gain a couple of inches on a free kick after being warned not to, and then again after he deliberately tripped opposition goalkeeper Mohamed Issa who already had the ball safely in his hands.

Two down at the first break, the resultant red card could have spelt the end of Cote d'Ivoire's hopes before the start of the second period.

But a blitz of three goals within two minutes of the start of the second period, one from Ludovic Ehounou (with an awkward bounce as luck would have it) and two from Landry Djimi, put the Ivoreans ahead.

The teams them swopped successes as the game ebbed and flowed at a fast pace. The final break was signalled with Cote d'Ivoire 5-4 up after Salomon Ouraga got on the scoresheet and Djimi wrapped up his hat-trick, while Moustafa Abdelrahman and Ahmed replied for Egypt.

Egypt equalised a minute into the final period when Ahmed completed his hat-trick, and the same player was on hand to guide a penalty home 90 seconds later to put the Sand Pharaohs ahead.

Egypt kept their lead for six minutes until Ouraga somehow managed to squeeze a goal from a sandy scramble in the goalmouth as the game entered a frenetic final four minutes.

A pinpoint shot into the bottom corner from Elahalim gave the Egyptians hope of a place in the final, but Ehounou, seconds after booked for incessently chirping the referees, was able to take the match into extra time.

The extra three minutes produce a goal apiece with Djimi looking like he had clinched victory for the central Africans with his hat-trick goal, only for Rashid Mohamed to level matters up and take the game to a penalty shootout.

Earlier Nigeria came from three goals down to edge past Senegal 7-6 in a thrilling first semi-final of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2009 Qualifier Durban on Saturday.

From the start Nigeria were clearly the better side all over the field except on the scoreboard as Senegal notched up three goals completely against the run of play. Ndour Mourtada had two to his name and Niang Habib one before Bartholomew Ibenegbu got Nigeria on the scoreboard -- but even the joy from that was completely overshadowed as Habib scored again from the restart to leave the score at 4-1 to Senegal at the first break.

Nigeria swopped their keeper, and although the outgoing Abdullah Isa has to accept some blame for the opening two goals (Mourtada's two which slipped under him and went between his legs respectively) he could do nothing about Habib's two blistering long-range efforts. The reality was that Senegal simply took all their early chances and Nigeria did not, but Nigerian coach Adamu Ejo had to do something, if only for psychological reasons.

The second period was 12 minutes of tough beach soccer at its best as both sides struggled to get on top, but a combination of wayward shooting, great goalkeeping and some bad luck meant neither team was able to add to their score. However it was easy to get the feeling that it was not going to be Nigeria's day when Ibenegbu missed an easy volley at a wide open goal with the keeper lying sprawled and helpless on the ground.

In the third period Senegal decided to sit back and defend their three-goal lead. The tactic to let Nigeria run at them was soon exposed and within a minute the lead was two, after Yahaya Baba drew a foul and smashed the resultant free kick home.

Then a flurry of four goals in about 90 seconds saw Isiaka Olawale net twice to pull the scores level, before Baba put Nigeria ahead for the first time when he was on hand to smash the ball into the back of the net. However the lead lasted just 35 seconds before Jean Koupaki put Senegal back on level terms again.

With five minutes left, Koupaki added his second and took Senegal back in front, and fatally the leaders once again opted to try and protect their slender advantage.

Isiaka scrambled the ball into the net from a melee in front of the goals to level things up once more with just over three minutes to play. Then in contrast to his first two goals, which were rocketed into the net, Isiaka displayed a delicate touch to guide the ball into the corner and away from the outstretched arms of keeper Ndiaye Al Seyni and take Nigeria to Dubai.

Results

Nigeria 7 – 6 Senegal

Côte d’Ivoire 8 – 8 Egypt

(Côte d’Ivoire win 4-3 on penalties)

RESULTS

Swaziland