Egypt lose 0-3 to U.S. in Confederations Cup

Faiza Ahmed
For Al-Shorfa.com
2009-06-27

Egypt’s Ahmed Abd El-Ghani in action during the FIFA Confederations Cup match between Egypt and the U.S. at Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 21 in Rustenburg, South Africa. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

CAIRO — The match between Egypt and the U.S., the final game in the first round of the Confederations Cup in South Africa, did not end as expected. Even if Egypt were to lose by less than three goals, they would have progressed to the semi-finals. Egypt’s hopes were dashed, however, when the U.S. national team scored all three goals in the match and gained a slot in the semi-finals.

Before the fateful match, the U.S. suffered defeats at the hands of both Brazil and Italy. In contrast, Egypt played a great match and posed a real challenge to Brazil, but ultimately lost 4-3. The determining goal was scored by a penalty kick in the 91st minute of the game. Egypt also beat Italy, the current world champion, 1-0. The U.S. team’s chances to progress to the semi-finals were thus considered miniscule; the odds were overwhelmingly in Egypt’s favour.

U.S. striker Charlie Davies scored the first goal in the 21st minute. Later in the match, Egypt’s goalkeeper Al-Hadari suffered a head injury after he accidentally collided with his defender and wore a bandage on his head for the rest of the match. In the second half, Michael Bradley, the son of U.S. coach Bob Bradley, scored again for the U.S. team in the 63rd minute of the game. Eight minutes later, Clint Dempsey scored the third goal.

The U.S. thus qualified to play Spain, currently the best national team in the world, on June 24, and once again against all odds also won that match.

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