Hosni Abd-Rabou's stunning second-half strike gave Egypt a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Zambia to keep alive their hopes of reaching the 2010 World Cup on Saturday. A thunderous shot from the Ahli Dubai midfielder, who was named the best player in Egypt's triumphant African Cup of Nations campaign last year, left Zambia keeper Kennedy Mweene with no chance on 69 minutes. The Pharaohs were far from convincing but secured a precious away victory that helped them go level on 10 points with Group C leaders and North African rivals Algeria. Algeria, who now hold a two-goal advantage over Egypt, can regain their three-point lead on top if they beat Rwanda at home on Sunday. Egypt then host Algeria next month in their last group game. Goal difference can eventually play a role in determining the group winner who will book a place in next year's South Africa finals. Al-Hadari Heroics Egypt had to thank in-form goalkeeper Essam Al-Hadari for denying Zambia several certain goals in the first half. The visitors struggled to move the ball around as the pitch's poor condition affected the rhythm of their play.
Al-Hadari impressed Lone striker Amr Zaki was isolated, with attacking midfielders Mohamed Abou-Treika and Ahmed Hassan hardly feeding him. Zambia could have opened the scoring as early as the tenth minute when a poor clearance by central defender Wael Gomaa found the unmarked Rainford Kalaba, whose shot from the edge of the area fell into Al-Hadari's hands. The Ismaili guardian superbly blocked a deflected shot on 25 minutes and pulled off a brilliant save five minutes later to tip Christopher Katongo's header onto the post. The six-time African champions survived another scare seven minutes after the break when Collins Mbesuma blasted the ball high and wide of Al-Hadari's goal when it looked easier to score. Egypt notably improved afterwards as they upped the tempo to lay siege to Zambia's area. The introduction of ENPPI striker Ahmed Raouf, who replaced the ineffective Mohamed Barakat on 58 minutes, also added impetus. Raouf unsettled Zambia's defense, which was very comfortable when Zaki played on his own, with some energetic moves down the right flank. Egypt's pressure paid dividends nine minutes past the hour mark when left-back Sayed Moawad, a peripheral figure throughout, laid off the ball for Abd-Rabou to fire an unstoppable right-footed shot into the top corner. It was Egypt's only shot during the whole game. Forward Ahmed Eid was then introduced instead of Zaki to help Egypt maintain possession and emerge winners.
