Algeria Victorious Over Senegal in World Cup Qualifier

Football fans around the world are looking forward to the 2010 FIFA World Cup to be held in South Africa starting 11 June 2010. Qualifying matches are currently underway and supporters of Algeria’s team, the Desert Foxes, were overjoyed at their 3-2 victory over Senegal’s Teranga Lions at the match played in the Algerian city of Blida on Friday 5 September. This hard-earned win puts Algeria in line to qualify for the next round of this history-making competition.

The first half of Friday’s match saw both football teams going all out in an effort to score a goal, but to no avail. The second half of the game kicked off with excitement running high and the Senegalese soon scoring the first goal of the match. Algeria’s numerous supporters were waiting on tenterhooks for their team to gain an advantage. In the sixty-third minute of the game, Algerian striker Yacine Bezzaz skillfully dribbled the ball past Senegal’s goal keeper, only to be intercepted by the Senegalese defender Cheikh Gueye who put the ball in his own net, thereby scoring a goal for Algeria – much to the relief and delight of the Desert Foxes’ fans.

With the score standing at a 1-1 tie, tension really began to mount. The goal scored by Algerian Rafik Saifi in the sixty-seventh minute, putting the score at 2-1 in Algeria’s favor was certainly a cause for concern among Senegal’s team members and supporters. Concern turned to anxiety for Senegal, and Algerian fans were jubilant as Antar Yahia scored Algeria’s third goal in the seventy-second minute of the game which was now 3-1 in Algeria’s favor.

The pressure on the Desert Foxes eased off a bit with the players appearing to be more relaxed following their third goal. As the game drew to a close, the Senegalese scored a second goal, closing the gap slightly but not preventing Algeria from clinching a 3-2 victory and winning the overwhelming approval of their supporters.

Desert Foxes coach, Rabah Saadane admits that the match was tough, but expressed his pleasure at the victory and his confidence that the team will work hard and is motivated to win the upcoming match in October – an event which both the team and its supporters are no doubt looking forward to and which may very well lead to participation in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.