Algeria beats Egypt to World Cup ticket

The Pharaohs of Egypt had more scoring opportunities and dictated the flow of the game for the greater part of their encounter against Algeria's Desert Foxes, but in the end they failed to find a way past the impressive Fawzi Chaouchi and succumbed to a lone goal defeat, which ended Egypt's long wait for a return to the World Cup.

The Pharaohs last appeared in the World Cup in 1990 in Italy. Before then their previous appearance had been at the second edition of the World Cup, also in Italy, and were tipped at the outset of the qualifiers to make it to next year's tournament in South Africa.

But a poor campaign, which was only salvaged by last Saturday's 2-0 defeat of the Algerians in a heated encounter in Cairo, meant that the African champions went into last night's encounter in Khartoum, Sudan, still with a chance of making it to South Africa.

Ending a long wait

A 40th minute volley from the right foot of Algerian defender, Antar Yahia, which clipped the bar before going past Egyptian goalie, Essam El Hadary, however, ensured that Algeria became the last African nation to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals, thus marking a return to the big stage for a side that has been away from the World Cup four years longer than the Egyptians, with their last appearance arriving at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico where they failed to advance from a first round group that included Brazil, Spain and Northern Ireland.

The winning goal in Wednesday night's playoff match, which became necessary after both sides finished level on points and goal difference after last weekend's final group decider in Cairo, came against the run of play and Algeria sought a more defensive approach after the break while the Egyptians resumed with their domination of play in pursuit of a much needed equaliser.

And Hassan Shehata's side came close to grabbing one in the middle of the second half, when striker, Emad Motaeb, found himself staring at the Algerian goal, but his close-range shot was blocked by the outstanding Chaouchi who dived low to his left to keep his side in the game.

And by the time Seychelles referee, Eddy Maillet, who was in charge of last Saturday's encounter between the Super Eagles and the Harambee Stars of Kenya, signalled for the end of the match, all attention turned to the Entente Setif goalkeeper, who mounted the goalpost before taking off his shirt as he celebrated his team's qualification for South Africa 2010.

A few minutes after that encounter in Sudan, it was the turn of the Greeks to celebrate a first appearance at the World Cup since 1994 in the United States after Dimitris Salpigidis scored the only goal in their defeat of Ukraine in Donetsk.

The Panathinaikos striker slotted home in the 31st minute after a through ball from Giorgios Samaras to send Ukraine's dream of consecutive World Cup appearances to the trash bin.

Both teams had contested a goalless draw in the first leg of their play-off in Athens last Saturday.