Salah nets brace as Egypt hit unfancied Niger for six
Liverpool star leads side to dream debut under coach Javier Aguirre
JOHANNESBURG: Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah scored twice and missed two penalties as Egypt made a dream debut under Mexican coach Javier Aguirre by crushing Niger 6-0 in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying on Saturday.
Salah had clashed with Egyptian football officials ahead of the matchday 2 qualifier in Alexandria for the 2019 finals over image-rights violations and personal security. But once on the pitch, the Egypt superstar was quickly in the thick of the action, winning a first-minute penalty which was blocked.
After Marwan Mohsen and Ayman Ashraf goals gave the 2018 World Cup flops a two-goal edge, Salah had another penalty saved, but scored from the rebound for a 3-0 half-time advantage. The Liverpool sharpshooter, who scored 32 English Premier League goals last season in his first campaign at Anfield, created the fourth goal for rising star Salah Mohsen.
Despite the huge victory margin, Egypt trail Tunisia in Group J on the head-to-head rule having lost 1-0 away to the north Africans in the first round 15 months ago.
SPAIN BEAT ENGLAND
LONDON: England failed to build on the momentum of reaching the World Cup semi-finals to begin their Nations League campaign as Spain came from behind to win 2-1 at Wembley in Luis Enrique’s first game in charge.
Gareth Southgate couldn’t have asked for a better start in England’s first game since returning from Russia as Marcus Rashford swept the hosts into an early lead.
But Spain, who crashed out in the last 16 of a chaotic World Cup after firing coach Julen Lopetegui on the eve of the tournament, punctured the feel-good factor surrounding England by hitting back through Saul Niguez and Rodrigo before half-time.
Worse was to come for England as Luke Shaw had to be stretchered off early in the second half with a worrying looking head injury. But only three stunning saves from David de Gea and a controversial decision to rule out Danny Welbeck’s late strike denied Southgate’s men at least a point.
SWISS DELIGHT
ST. GALLEN: Liverpool winger Xherdan Shaqiri was among the scorers as Switzerland routed Iceland 6-0 in their opening game of the UEFA Nations League in St Gallen on Saturday.
Steven Zuber and Denis Zakaria gave Switzerland a two-goal lead before Shaqiri fired in a freekick from a tight angle out on the right on 53 minutes.
Goals from Haris Seferovic, Albian Ajeti and Admir Mehmedi completed the resounding win as Switzerland made a dream start to a group that also includes World Cup semi-finalists Belgium. Iceland host Italy in Reykjavik on Tuesday, while Switzerland play England in a friendly in Leicester.