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OMDURMAN, Sudan: A superb Antar Yahia goal gave Algeria a 1-0 victory over Egypt on Wednesday and a place at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The France-born defender who plays for German club VfL Bochum struck on 40 minutes to settle a play-off necessitated by the bitter North African rivals finishing level on points and goal difference in one of five African groups.
As a lofted through ball landed in the Egyptian penalty area, veteran Abdelzaher al-Saqqa allowed it to drop behind him and Yahia volleyed an unstoppable shot into the net off the underside of the crossbar.
African champions Egypt dominated the second half territorially only to come up against a watertight defence backed by brilliant stand-in goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi.
The match at a packed 45,000-seat Al-Merreikh Stadium passed without incident amid tight security after the Algerian team bus was attacked in Cairo last Thursday, leaving three players injured and triggering reprisal attacks.
On Saturday, Emad Moteab scored five minutes into stoppage time to give Egypt a 2-0 win which forced the play-off and raised hopes of a first appearance at the World Cup in 20 years.
But it is the 'Desert Foxes', back at the finals for the first time since 1986, who will join hosts South Africa, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria at the first World Cup to be staged by Africa.
Nadir Belhadj was cautioned in the first minute as Algeria sought only a second win over Egypt in seven World Cup clashes and the 'Pharaohs' looked more dangerous in the early stages.
Chaouchi, a replacement for suspended Lounes Gaouaoui, rescued his team on five minutes with a brilliant reflex save from a powerful Amr Zaki header off a Mohamed Aboutraika corner.
Belhadj the aggressor turned into a danger man as he exchanged passes before firing over and veteran Egypt goalkeeper Essam al-Hadary made a superb point-blank parry to deprive Yahia.
The tension was telling in the steamy Sudanese stadium with riot police ringing the pitch in front of segregated supporters and a player from each side was cautioned before Yahia scored the most precious goal of his careeer.
Egypt, champions of Africa a record six times but World Cup qualifiers only twice, introduced midfielder Hosny Abd Rabou and striker Mohamed Zidan at half-time and spent most of the second half camped in enemy territory.
But the 'Pharaohs' found it hard to break down the white-shirted Algerian defence and when they did find the target, 24-year-old Chaouchi from the Entente Setif club was always there to thwart them.
- AFP/yb
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