By Mohamed Fajah Barrie in Monrovia
A brace from striker Mahmoud Trezeguet gave Egypt a 2-0 win over a 9-man Sierra Leone at the Samuel K. Doe stadium in Monrovia on Sunday.
The victory is Egypt’s first over Sierra Leone, and it means that the North Africans maintain their lead in group A with maximum points from two games.
The Pharaohs have now scored eight goals in total with no goal conceded.
Hosts Leone Stars started the group A encounter well until midfielder Tyrese Fornah who plays for Derby County in England was shown a straight red card in the 34th minute on his home debut for a dangerous foul on an opponent.
The Pharaohs dominated from this point although they had got their first goal before the sending off.
Turkey based Mahmoud Trezeguet netted the first clear cut opportunity of the match from the box in the 18th minute with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah involved in the build-up.
Leone Stars came close to equalise before the break when winger Sullay Kaikai hit the left post after a fine build.
Mo Salah capitalised on a blunder from Emmanuel Samadiya to put through Trezeguet whose deflected shot passed goalie Ibrahim Sesay to double Egypt’s lead in the 62nd minute and take his tally in the campaign to three goals having scored a goal against Djibouti in their opening game at home.
Sierra Leone fought hard to at least get a goal as they kept the impressive Egyptian goalie El- Shenawy busy towards the end of normal time.
Substitute Amadou Bakayoko’s effort from a cross was blocked by El- Shenawy who also saved the rebound kick.
Leone Stars finished the match with nine men after central defender Abdul Jarju Kabia received a second yellow card for fouling an opponent on the half way line.
Mo Salah was targeted by pitch invaders forcing the match to be paused before the second half stoppages.
The victory marks the first for the Pharaohs over Leone Stars in three meetings so far between the two teams with the head to head recorded books now read one win a piece, and a draw..
Leone Stars have now played two games in the qualifiers recording one draw and a loss, with no goals scored and two goals conceded,
