EARLY GOALS HANDS BAFANA DEFEAT

An early goal from striker Emad Moteab handed African champions Egypt a 1-0 win over World Cup 2010 hosts South Africa at Griffin Park in London on Wednesday.
Fresh from a prominent role in his club Al Ahli’s African Champions League final win at the weekend, Moteab fired home after just three minutes of a fast-paced game at the home of third division Brentford.
Moteab raced through the defence to latch onto a pin-point chip over the top from his club colleague Mohamed Aboutrika, whose probing passes kept South Africa on the back foot for much of the first half.
Moteab came close to a second just after the quarter hour mark with an innovative effort from close range as he tried to latch onto a high cross from Tottenham Hotspur’s Hossam Ghali.
A double save from South African goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez kept out a rasping short from Amr Zaki and a quick follow-up from Moteab in the 23rd minute.
South Africa looked stronger in the second half but despite a good deal of possession rarely tested Egypt’s goalkeeper Essam Al Hadari.
Sibusiso Zuma slammed a free kick into the wall from the edge of the penalty area early in the second half and captain Aaron Mokoena missed a chance at the near post from a set piece.
The win ended a run of seven games without conceding a goal for South Africa.
“We needed to win the match after losing a couple friendlies since our Nations Cup win in January,” said Egypt coach Hassan Shehata, whose key striker Ahmed ‘Mido’ Hossam missed the match with a knee injury.
“We are now building a new team and we need games like this to develop new players,” he added.
Wednesday’s friendly, watched by a crowd estimated at only 2000, was overshadowed by a threat from both Egypt and South Africa to pull out in a wrangle with organisers over their match fee and poor standard accommodation in the British capital.
Both countries resolved to play only after meeting the London-based organisers on Wednesday morning.