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LONDON: If every there was evidence that football sometimes is not fair, then this was it.
Uruguay came into the match as big favorites, they were supposed to be exciting, determined, possible champions. They turned up predictable and ponderous, and Egypt looked well worth a point. But a powering Jose Gimenez header from a free-kick with just a minute left, left the Pharaohs heartbroken and anyone watching it with a sense of injustice.
But that is football and for all their poise and industry of Egypt they were not able to create the chances that would have put the out-of-sorts Uruguay under pressure.
The big news ahead of kick-off was that Mohamed Salah was on the bench, his shoulder injury still too much of risk to have him starting. But if that disappointment affected his teammates, it did not show. The Pharaohs started confidently. They looked happy in possession and well organized, and it was no surprise when they fashioned the first chance of the match — Mahmoud Trezeguet starting the move on left-hand side before coming across and getting in a shot that was easily saved by Fernando Muslera in the Uruguay goal.
An Edinson Cavani attempt soon after, however, illustrated exactly the cutting edge Egypt lacked — the Uruguay striker dinking the ball over one defender before hitting a well-struck volley that was deflected for a corner. From that set piece Luis Suarez, of all players, missed a great chance at the back post, firing into the side netting when it looked easier to hit the target.
As good a half as they enjoyed, Egypt failed to punish Uruguay in a half during which they were really disappointing.
At the start of the second period it was a different story. They emerged from the dressing room with more energy and purpose. A minute in, Suarez, played in by Cavani, forced a good save from Mohamed El-Shenawy. But that did not prompt a period of pressure from the South Americans. As with the first half they looked half a yard off the pace and lacking sharpness.
The longer it stayed that way the more it suited Egypt. Ahmed Fathy, on one the rare occasions he was able to get forward from right-back, forced a good save from Muslera. That was immediately followed by a great chance at the other end — one-on-one with El-Shenawy Suarez could not get the ball from out of his feet and the Egyptian saved well.
In truth neither side deserved to score, for all of Egypt’s industry they did not create much, and for all of the fleeting glimpses of their class, it would not have been unfair had Uruguay snatched all the points.
So when a great El-Shenawy save and the right-hand post prevented the impressive Cavani from putting Uruguay ahead late on, it seemed natural justice would be served.
That was until Gimenez rose above the Egyptian defense to leave them distraught and left to think of what might have been.