Egypt’s Amro El Soulia scores an own goal during the semi-final against Tunisia.
Doha: Tunisia beat Egypt by a lone goal in the ‘North African derby’ at a loud Stadium 974 yesterday to book a spot in the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021 final. A stoppage-time own goal by Egypt’s captain Amro El Soulia saw The Pharaohs fall with just seconds to extra time.
Leading up to the match, both coaches Mondher El Kabir and Carlos Queiroz had been respectful of both sides’ qualities. However, Egypt played 120 minutes in their quarter-finals against Jordan, winning 3-1, while Tunisia edged Oman 2-1.
El Kabir, who consistently lauded the Eagles’ solidarity and camaraderie within the squad, hailed his players for grinding out a difficult win.
“The match was difficult against the Egyptian team, and it was not easy. We got a lot of freekicks and threatened them. We created several scoring chances before we got the goal at the last moment,” an excited El Kabir said after the match.
“It is not easy in matches like this to go through difficult circumstances, especially when you lose a defender at the beginning of the match. We had to change the formation from three at the back to four,” he added.
With fatigue and returning injured players, both teams started with intent, and Tunisia soon got an early corner, but Youssef Msakni’s attempt was diverted for another corner.
Montassar Talbi could have put Tunisia ahead from Hannibal Mejbri’s corner, but he thumped his header wide just five minutes played.
Both sides looked comfortable in possession, but Tunisia’s Mohamed Drager always looked dangerous down the right as he forced a corner after a lovely run. Yet, Talbi again got his head to the ball, but El Shenawy was alert to the threat.
Again the Carthage Eagles looked the more likely to score, but El Shenawy came out quickly to clear his line with Drager in a good position.
The returning Ahmed Hegazi tested Hassan Mouez from long range, but the Tunisian shotstopper easily gathered.
Tunisia were rocked by an injury blow to influential defender
Yassine Meriah appeared to have suffered a knock to his knee and was stretchered out in the 39th minute.
Soon Egypt made a mess of an easy goalscroing chance as Marwan Hamdy couldn’t sort out his feet with the goalie to beat, but Zizo was called for an initial offside as both teams went into halftime.
The second half began with some more possession to Tunisia. Just before the hour mark, Iranian referee Alireza Faghani pointed to the penalty spot after Hegazi seemed to bundle over substitute Ali Ben Romdhane.
But the decision was however reversed after the referee consulted VAR.
In the second half, Egypt gradually grew into the game and had a real glance at goal as substitute Mohamed Sherif ran onto a through ball, but his tame effort was no trouble for Mouez.
A mistake from the impressive Drager almost cost the Eagles 15 minutes from time, but Marwan, who beat his marker, could only watch as teammate Mostafa Fathi nicked the ball off him to shoot high and wide.
Egypt had a chance to score after a counter-attack, but Marwan rushed his effort and fired straight at Mouez before Romdhane’s curler went wide off the top corner with El Shenawy well beaten.
Another Tunisian opportunity went begging as tournament top scorer failed to convert from close range from Naim Sliti’s corner in stoppage time.
With the game creeping towards extra time, Tunisia won at the death to break Egyptian hearts in the 95th minute. Substitute Naim Sliti floated a free kick from the left into the box, but Soulia, who has been inspirational for The Pharaohs in the tournament, saw his attempt to clear the ball with a header agonizingly fly over the helpless El Shenawy as Tunisia celebrated a remarkable win.
“I would like to thank the fans,” rising star Hannibal Mejbri said after the match.
“The atmosphere was crazy. It was like a Champions League final. This is my first competition with the national team, but this is 18 years of work for me,” the 18-year-old Manchester United starlet added.
“I gave everything. Even if I am a goalkeeper, I will give my best, and today is a nice day for and for all of Tunisia.”
