African champions Egypt slumped to a 2-0 defeat on Saturday against Spain who prepare for the World Cup in Germany later this week. Spain captain Raul Gonzales put the hosts ahead in the 14th minute and substitute Jose Antonio Reyes sealed the victory 11 minutes after the break. Egypt failed to impress in their first appearance after winning the African Cup of Nations at home in February while Spain bolstered confidence with just six days left for the global event. The Pharaohs played without three of their starting strikers in the African Cup, with Ahmed Hossam 'Mido' suspended, Amr Zaki injured and captain Hossam Hassan dropped from the trip to Spain. Goalkeeper Essam Al-Hadari, who was chosen Africa's Best Goalkeeper this year, looked out of form and was to blame for the first goal. Explosive Start Spain launched several attacking waves since the starting whistle and laid a siege to the Egyptian area in the first 10 minutes during which they had two chances to break the deadlock. The hosts grabbed the lead in the 14th minute when Antonio Lopez cut from the left and fired a low shot that Al-Hadari parried into the path of Raul to poke home on the rebound. Egypt had their first attempt five minutes later when playmaker Mohamed Abou-Treika crossed from the left but Abdul-Zaher Al-Sakka headed wide.
Raul (back) celebrates after scoring Cesc Fabregas came close from stretching the lead in the 21st minute as he riffled a long-range shot at a shaken Al-Hadari who controlled the ball difficultly. The African champions restored a bit of their form just before the interval when Hosni Abd-Rabou darted from the right and fired low just wide. Abou-Treika curled a lethal ball four minutes from the break but his shot couldn't find the back of the net. In the 50th minute, Emad Meteb almost leveled the score when Carles Puyol failed to clear a long ball outside the area but the Ahli striker was too slow to react. Reyes put Spain two up in the 56th minute when he stepped up to deliver a curling free-kick that sailed over the wall and went past Al-Hadari. Abou-Treika squandered Egypt's closest chance in the 70th minute when he scuffed a loose ball just outside the box but sent a poor shot wide with Spain keeper Iker Casillas at his mercy. Abdul-Halim Ali was thrown into the fray and he was close to open Egypt's account on a couple of occasions. He towered above the Spain static defense to steer a powerful header that Casillas tipped into a corner-kick before keeping the Real Madrid keeper busy blocking his powerful low shot a few minutes later. Spain set the rhythm again in the final minutes as Luis Garcia and Fernando Torres almost added other goals for the hosts.
