Late Moteab goal throws Egypt World Cup lifeline

Emad Moteab scored five minutes into stoppage time to earn Egypt a 2-0 victory over Algeria Saturday and a 2010 World Cup lifeline.

The result left the bitter North African rivals level on points and goal difference at the top of Group C so they will meet again next Wednesday in Sudan to decide which country goes to South Africa.

Reigning African champions Egypt could not have wished for a better start with Amr Zaki giving them a second-minute lead before a sell-out 75,000 crowd at the Cairo Stadium.

But the ‘Pharaohs’ failed to build on their early fortune and Algeria missed several good chances to equalise in a clash between two of the fiercest African football rivals.

Moteab replaced Zaki after 65 minutes and when all seemed lost, he rose to head the ball into the far corner of the net past Algerian goalkeeper Lounes Gaouaoui.

The build-up to the match had been marred by hostility, including stones being thrown at the Algerian team bus as it drove from Cairo airport to their hotel.