Trezeguest scores a brace in a shaky Egypt win over Burkina Faso

Ahead of the World Cup qualifying game with Burkina Faso in Kairo, Egypt captain Mohamed Salah had a goal – to shine in front of the home audience, since his will to play for Pharaohs was questioned during the last AFCON. After sustaining an injury against Ghana in January, he went back to Liverpool in order to heal himself and that angered the public. Egypt exited early, which ‘steered the water’ even more, but since the start of the World Cup qualifications, the team led by a new coach, Hossam Hasan, has been successful. So, it was vital for the Liverpool star to shine in tonight’s game. But his teammate stole the show, as former Aston Villa forward Trezeguet scored a brace in a shaky win over the Stallions: Eqypt – Burkina Faso 2-1.

In Salah's first appearance for the Pharaohs since that Ghana game, the Liverpool forward assisted for the first goal, which came after only three minutes. Salah came down the right and Trezequet picked up his cross and smashed the header just under the bar. In the seventh minute it was already 2-0, as the current Trabzonspor forward used the amateur defense of the guests and made a precise shot to the bottom left side of the goal. The game ‘died away’ after 20 minutes and apart from one chance, the home team managed nothing more in the first 45 minutes.

Burkina Faso changed three players at the start of the second half, and that brought instant success. Shakhtar Donetsk’s Lassina Traoré was the most clever one as he was all alone near the Egypt goal line and put the ball into the net from one meter. Leverkusen’s Tapsoba started the action and keeper El-Shenawy managed to save the header but the ball touched the bar and landed in front of unmarked Traore. Egypt panicked a bit, and until the end, only Salah had a half-chance, while Traore had a great chance for an equalizer in the 82nd minute, but his shot was saved and that was it.