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Tribune News Network
Doha
Defending champions Morocco and formidable Algeria announced their arrival at the FIFA Arab Cup 2021 with thumping identical 4-0 wins over Sudan and Palestine respectively.
Qatar-based striker Baghdad Bounedjah bagged a brace as Algeria excelled in Group D at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium while Morocco had their way in the Group C clash at Al Jaboub Stadium.
Bounedjah needed 11 minutes to put the Desert Foxes ahead before doubling their lead in the 37th minute.
Defender Djamel Benlamri made it 3-0 two minutes before halftime and striker Hillal Soudani completed the rout one minute into the second half. Sudan’s woes were compounded when Mohammed Abdel missed a penalty.
Algeria are level on three points with Egypt, who beat Lebanon 1-0 in the other group game.
Mohamed Nahiri gave Morocco a 31st-minute lead over Palestine and Abdelilah Hafidi extended their advantage on 56 minutes.
The Raja winger was on target again eight minutes later to further widen the gap and Ahly defender Badr Benoun put the icing on the cake with a 87th-minute penalty.
The Desert Foxes were a class apart from the word go and hovered over the penalty area of Sudan, who struggled all through.
The onslaught began immediately after the whistle as Al Sadd star Bounedjah hit the post from an acrobatic strike. Bounedjah would not be denied as he opened the scoring in the 11th minute. Soudani’s through ball carved open the Sudanese defence, and Bounedjah beat the offside trap, rounded the onrushing goalkeeper Ali Achrine and slotted into an empty goal.
Soudani could have got himself on the scoresheet just minutes later, but the defence did just enough to clear the danger.
Yacine Brahimi, another of Qatar Stars League player, after beating his markers shot wide off the mark.
Bounedjah made it two in the 37th by Achrine. Sudan failed to clear a corner, and the ball fell kindly for Brahimi, who set up Bounedjah. The striker’s first-time effort was spilled into the net for what should have been a simple save.
Sudan hardly with any sniff of the ball could have gone three down almost immediately, but Brahimi dragged his effort from just inside the box narrowly wide after good work from Amir Sayoud.
Soon, Djamel Benlamri headed home for his first international goal just before half time.
In the second half, Algeria continued on the front foot and soon made it four thanks to some defensive blunder by Mohamed Saeed Ahmed.
Bounedjah thought he had bagged his hat-trick with a lovely chip over Achrine, but VAR ruled it out for offside.
Sudan got the chance to pull one back when VAR adjudged Benlamri to have fouled Sudan’s captain Nasreldin El Shigail.
The big action of the group stage will return on Friday after a day’s rest for all teams on Thursday.
Results
Algeria 4 (Baghdad Bounedjah 11’ & 37’, Djamel Benlamri 43’, Soudani El Arabi 46’) bt Sudan 0
Morocco 4 (Mohammed Nahiri 31’, Abdelilah Hafidi 56’& 64’, Badr Benoun 87’) bt
Palestine 0.
Doha
Defending champions Morocco and formidable Algeria announced their arrival at the FIFA Arab Cup 2021 with thumping identical 4-0 wins over Sudan and Palestine respectively.
Qatar-based striker Baghdad Bounedjah bagged a brace as Algeria excelled in Group D at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium while Morocco had their way in the Group C clash at Al Jaboub Stadium.
Bounedjah needed 11 minutes to put the Desert Foxes ahead before doubling their lead in the 37th minute.
Defender Djamel Benlamri made it 3-0 two minutes before halftime and striker Hillal Soudani completed the rout one minute into the second half. Sudan’s woes were compounded when Mohammed Abdel missed a penalty.
Algeria are level on three points with Egypt, who beat Lebanon 1-0 in the other group game.
Mohamed Nahiri gave Morocco a 31st-minute lead over Palestine and Abdelilah Hafidi extended their advantage on 56 minutes.
The Raja winger was on target again eight minutes later to further widen the gap and Ahly defender Badr Benoun put the icing on the cake with a 87th-minute penalty.
The Desert Foxes were a class apart from the word go and hovered over the penalty area of Sudan, who struggled all through.
The onslaught began immediately after the whistle as Al Sadd star Bounedjah hit the post from an acrobatic strike. Bounedjah would not be denied as he opened the scoring in the 11th minute. Soudani’s through ball carved open the Sudanese defence, and Bounedjah beat the offside trap, rounded the onrushing goalkeeper Ali Achrine and slotted into an empty goal.
Soudani could have got himself on the scoresheet just minutes later, but the defence did just enough to clear the danger.
Yacine Brahimi, another of Qatar Stars League player, after beating his markers shot wide off the mark.
Bounedjah made it two in the 37th by Achrine. Sudan failed to clear a corner, and the ball fell kindly for Brahimi, who set up Bounedjah. The striker’s first-time effort was spilled into the net for what should have been a simple save.
Sudan hardly with any sniff of the ball could have gone three down almost immediately, but Brahimi dragged his effort from just inside the box narrowly wide after good work from Amir Sayoud.
Soon, Djamel Benlamri headed home for his first international goal just before half time.
In the second half, Algeria continued on the front foot and soon made it four thanks to some defensive blunder by Mohamed Saeed Ahmed.
Bounedjah thought he had bagged his hat-trick with a lovely chip over Achrine, but VAR ruled it out for offside.
Sudan got the chance to pull one back when VAR adjudged Benlamri to have fouled Sudan’s captain Nasreldin El Shigail.
The big action of the group stage will return on Friday after a day’s rest for all teams on Thursday.
Results
Algeria 4 (Baghdad Bounedjah 11’ & 37’, Djamel Benlamri 43’, Soudani El Arabi 46’) bt Sudan 0
Morocco 4 (Mohammed Nahiri 31’, Abdelilah Hafidi 56’& 64’, Badr Benoun 87’) bt
Palestine 0.
