Scotty
22 Jun 2009, 06:03 PM
Translated from La Gazzetta dello Sport:
Pharaonic USA batters the Egyptians
In the end the Americans are the pharaohs. Goal differential has awarded the team of Bob Bradley. Something that no one even took into consideration. Three to nil for Donovan and his companions. A result that even flattered the Egyptians, who were never in the game. Without legs, without heart. The USA, however, put on a show while creating at least eight clear chances. Only the exploits of El Hadary, on the field wearing a turban for a forehead wound, contained the defeat. But the 3-0 brought second place for the USA, who move on to challenge Spain. The European Champions now concentrate on Donovan.
The key
Zidan wasn’t there. And it showed. Without his offensive power Egypt is another team. Too predictable. Even Aboutrika, another one of Shehata’s talented veterans, was unrecognizable. Egypt was toothless up front and a wreck in the back. Gomaa and Fathi were a couple of statues. The result: the USA went ahead after 22 minutes through Davies, who recovered a dirty ball and fooled the opposing defense. Then it was El Hadary’s turn to invent three miraculous saves.
USA unleashed
Bob Bradley’s team insisted. At the 7th minute Altidore, unmarked near the penalty spot, took a shot at what seemed to be a sure fire goal, but his conclusion was pushed off the line by Hani Said. The ball struck the chest and then the arm of the defender. Egypt seemed paralyzed. Their attack had only one plan: crosses from the third quarter of the field. Easy pickings for the gigantic DeMerit and Onyewu. It was no match. The Americans doubled their lead at the 19th minute when Bradley, on the fly, adjusted a delicious touch from the unstoppable Donovan. The U.S. coach then played another one of his cards by sending on Feilhaber, an attacker who, against Brazil, made Julio Cesar tremble. And at the 72nd minute Dempsey made it 3-0 with a perfect header. With the defense watching. Immobile. In the afternoon the Egyptian delegation had officially protested against a South African newspaper article that reported a "spicy" evening (ending in theft) involving Shehata’s team in their hotel after the victory against the Azzurri. Maybe it wasn’t so spicy after all. Perhaps just tepid?
Pharaonic USA batters the Egyptians
In the end the Americans are the pharaohs. Goal differential has awarded the team of Bob Bradley. Something that no one even took into consideration. Three to nil for Donovan and his companions. A result that even flattered the Egyptians, who were never in the game. Without legs, without heart. The USA, however, put on a show while creating at least eight clear chances. Only the exploits of El Hadary, on the field wearing a turban for a forehead wound, contained the defeat. But the 3-0 brought second place for the USA, who move on to challenge Spain. The European Champions now concentrate on Donovan.
The key
Zidan wasn’t there. And it showed. Without his offensive power Egypt is another team. Too predictable. Even Aboutrika, another one of Shehata’s talented veterans, was unrecognizable. Egypt was toothless up front and a wreck in the back. Gomaa and Fathi were a couple of statues. The result: the USA went ahead after 22 minutes through Davies, who recovered a dirty ball and fooled the opposing defense. Then it was El Hadary’s turn to invent three miraculous saves.
USA unleashed
Bob Bradley’s team insisted. At the 7th minute Altidore, unmarked near the penalty spot, took a shot at what seemed to be a sure fire goal, but his conclusion was pushed off the line by Hani Said. The ball struck the chest and then the arm of the defender. Egypt seemed paralyzed. Their attack had only one plan: crosses from the third quarter of the field. Easy pickings for the gigantic DeMerit and Onyewu. It was no match. The Americans doubled their lead at the 19th minute when Bradley, on the fly, adjusted a delicious touch from the unstoppable Donovan. The U.S. coach then played another one of his cards by sending on Feilhaber, an attacker who, against Brazil, made Julio Cesar tremble. And at the 72nd minute Dempsey made it 3-0 with a perfect header. With the defense watching. Immobile. In the afternoon the Egyptian delegation had officially protested against a South African newspaper article that reported a "spicy" evening (ending in theft) involving Shehata’s team in their hotel after the victory against the Azzurri. Maybe it wasn’t so spicy after all. Perhaps just tepid?