100-cap Abou Trika stars for Egypt
JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Egypt midfielder Mohamed Abou Trika celebrated his 100th cap by scoring one goal and creating three in a 4-2 World Cup qualifying win over 10-man Guinea on Tuesday.
The result of the Group H dead rubber maintained the 100 percent record of the Pharaohs as they chase a first World Cup appearance since the 1990 finals in Italy.
Abou Trika is the ninth Egyptian footballer to reach the 100-cap milestone and retired compatriot Ahmed Hassan holds the world record with 184 national team appearances.
Egypt finished with 18 points, Guinea 10, Mozambique three and Zimbabwe two in a group dominated from start to finish by the seven-time African champions.
A draw in Cairo on September 16 will decide who Egypt face in a two-leg play-off during October and November with the winners securing a place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Fears of crowd trouble in politically turbulent and security sensitive Egypt meant the game was staged in El-Gouna -- far from popular football venues Cairo and Alexandria.
It was the first time the Pharaohs have played at the Red Sea watersports resort, 450 kilometres north-east of capital city Cairo.
The rudimentary 12,000-seat stadium has also been used recently for African club fixtures by Cairo powerhouses Al-Ahly and Zamalek.
Egypt made a disastrous start, falling behind after only four minutes when Adam El Abd from English second-tier outfit Brighton conceded an own goal.
A mix-up between El Abd and goalkeeper Sherif Ekrami led to the early bonus for Guinea as they sought to avenge a 3-2 home loss last year.
The home side gradually took control and almost levelled midway through the half when goalkeeper Naby Yattara clawed away a Shikabala free-kick.
Ibrahima Bangoura had a half-chance at the other end five minutes later, but his tame effort trickled into the hands of Ekrami.
Egypt equalised seven minutes before the break when Hossam Ghaly volleyed into the net after an Abou Trika free-kick was not cleared.
Early second-half drama saw Guinea captain Kamil Zayatte red carded for handling a goal-bound shot and Abou Trika converted the resulting penalty.
But 10-man Guinea hit back six minutes later when Seydouba Soumah beat El Abd to the ball and raced clear to score.
Yattara saved superbly from Shikabala and Guinea substitute Mohamed Yattara was spared embarrassment by being ruled offside after missing a sitter.
Egypt nudged in front again with seven minutes left and Abou Trika was involved once more, back-flicking the ball to Mohamed Salah, who rounded the goalkeeper and scored.
There was no stopping Abou Trika as he put Amr Zaki through and a drive from the substitute went in via a deflection off Mohamed Sakho.
The curtain came down on the 120-match second round six hours later when Group H winners Algeria defeated Mali 1-0 in another dead rubber.
Croatia-based striker El Arabi Soudani was the match-winner in Blida, south-west of Algiers, with a goal for the Desert Foxes six minutes after half-time.