ALGIERS -- Morocco boosted their chances of
reaching the World Cup finals for the fifth time with a 2-1 away
win against Algeria on Friday in an African zone qualifier.
Morocco maintained their unbeaten record and now head group
C with 12 points from six matches, three points ahead of Senegal
who meet Egypt on Sunday in Cairo. Algeria are languishing in
fourth position on four points.
The Algerians were the first to threaten a goal when Rafik
Essaifi hit the bar with a header in the third minute.
Five minutes later, striker Abdelhafid Tasfaout gave the
home side the lead with a powerful shot from just outside the
box.
Morocco, missing playmaker Mustapha Hadji, equalised eight
minutes later through Rachid Benmahmoud after the Algerian
defence failed to clear the ball from the penalty area after a
free kick.
The visitors struck again two minutes into the second half
when a long cross by Gharib Amzine took goalkeeper Hisham Mezair
by surprise and went into the upper left corner of the net.
Four minutes later Morocco had a third goal disallowed for
offside.
The top team in each of the African groups qualifies
directly for the 2002 finals in South Korea and Japan.
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