IF YOU FAILED TO WATCH OR FOLLOW THE FLAMES AGAINST ALGERIA Here is a slight picture of what happened With Crink M Afternoon all. This has all been a little bit of a last- minute late call-up, so for preamble purposes heres Ben Niemczyk: Algeria may be big favourites, but I wouldnt count Malawi out completely. They got some good results in qualifying including a 1-1 draw with Ivory Coast when they took the lead. Look out for the midfielder Joseph Kamwendo (if he plays). Hes got good touch and awareness. He also has a low centre of gravity making him difficult to knock off the ball. His name is also amusingly appropriate as Kamwendo roughly translates into English as small leg(s). The teams are in and man-to-watch Joseph Kamwendo does indeed start for Malawi: Malawi: 1-Swadick Sanudi; 3-Moses Chavula, 5- James Sangala, 7-Peter Mponda, 12-Elvis Kafoteka; 13-Hellings Mwakasungula, 10-Joseph Kamwendo, 18-Peter Wadabwa, 19-Davi Banda; 9- Russell Mwafulirwa, 11-Esau Kanyenda. Algeria: 16-Fawzi Chaouchi; 2-Madjid Bougherra, 5-Rafik Halliche, 17-Samir Zaoui; 3-Nadir Belhadj, 13-Karim Matmour, 19-Hassan Yebda, 6-Yazid Mansouri, 15-Karim Ziani; 9-Abdelkader Ghezzal, 10-Rafik Saifi. Referee: Badara Diatta (Senegal) Anthemwatch: Plenty of brass from Malawi, and a decent stab of belting it out from most of the players. Algerias is a little more upbeat, and though theres little in the way of patriotic singing, theres some good, earnest hands-on-heart stuff. Peep! Algeria, who I keep typing as Alegeria for some reason, get us underway. 2 min: Sangala has to make a sharp clearance for Malawi, or the Flames as Im reliably informed, after a quick free kick from Algeria (or the Desert Foxes, if you prefer). 3 min: With the lack of attendance theres also a lack of vuvuzela, which you imagine would be a blessing, though it appears one member of the crowd has brought his or hers along. It sounds like a malingering sperm whale has crept in the stadium and gone into labour. 4 min: Portsmouths Hassan Yebda attempts a long ball over the top, but its far too long. Seconds later Ghezzal forces Malawi keeper Sanudi into a fine stop from a tight angle. 6 min: Russell Mwafulirwa, the Malawians key man according to the TV experts, is caught offside. Hes got Russell on the back of his shirt, so Ill be referring to him as that, not least to cut down on the spelling errors. 8 min: Right-back Elvis Kafoteka swings in a cross (that feels like an open pun-goal ... but all I can think of is Are You Lonesome Tonight, which would be some shoehorn) which Russell, under pressure from Bougherra connects with, but his diving effort flies just wide. 10 min: The underdogs are on top here, Moses Chavula swings in a cross from the left, but its well claimed by Chaouchi in the Algeria goal. Look out for his haircut, by the way - its not pretty. Remember when Ronaldo had that skinhead with the clump at the front? Its along those lines but the bit at the front looks like a shorter version of Bobby Charltons old combover. 12 min: Malawi are playing three at the back from what I can make out (formations can be a little tricky from the TV), and the wing-backs are getting plenty of space. Chavula again romped forward down the left, though his cross was hopeless. 14 min: Bougherra thwacks a cross well over, again from a decent position. 15 min: Malawi have had 54% of the possession against their World Cup-bound opponents. But Algeria have just produced the best passing move of the game, a one-touch pass from Saifi, offering Ziani the chance to volley at goal, but its saved. GOAL! Malawi 1-0 Algeria (Russell 17) What a mess that was! Chaouchi and Bougeherra utterly fail to deal with a routine through-ball, the keeper spanking his clearance against the onrushing Esau Kanyenda. The ball pops out to Russell, who roofs it past the scrambling Bougherra on the line. 19 min: Well that could make things very interesting. Algeria have responded straight away, Belhadj winning a corner ... 20 min: ... punched clear by Swadick Sanudi, who was fouled by Saifi anyway. 22 min: Theres already a suggestion that Malawi are sitting back - theyve been far less gung-ho since the goal, though maybe its simply that Algeria have been stung into life. Ziani swings in a free-kick - a decent one, but well dealt with by the Malawi rearguard. 23 min: Halliche is forced into a strong clearance as Malawi rediscover their collective mojo for a moment. 24 min: Algeria should be level. Zianis scoop-pass completely does the Malawi backline, but Saifi, running on to it, has half an eye on the onrushing keeper and can only lob his effort onto the roof of the net. 27 min: The only place emptier than the stadium in Luanda at the moment is my inbox. Sitting at the top is an email from a friend demanding I repay him £34.50 for a Test match ticket for next summer. Hasnt anyone out there got any observations, tips, musings or comments on the ACN? If only so I can say that I missed his email because I was deluged with missives during an MBM ... In other news Malawi have a corner ... 28 min: ... in fact theyve forced back-to-back corners, both of which are pretty poorly delivered, and pretty unconvincingly dealt with by the Desert Foxes. 29 min: Chavula wallops a 40-odd yard free-kick well over the bar. 32 min: Algeria waste another decent position - there having a bit of joy down the left, but the delivery into the box has been poor thus far. GOAL! Malawi 2-0 Algeria (Kafoteka 34) What a goal that is! A belter! And its Elvis whos got it. A whipped cross and a header from the hammer of Thor himself, screaming past Chaouchi before he had time to react. Algeria have been very much All Shook Up by this start from the Flames. (Thats horrendous, Im sorry. Im really, really sorry.) 36 min: Seconds before that goal went in, this arrived from Ibrahim Nathanie: Its funny how a lot of guys are under rating Malawi. We beat Egypt at home drew with Ivory Coast and with Ghana. Under-rate us at your peril. Id say theres little chance of that after this first half display. 39 min: Wadabwa is being carried off here - he seemed to jar his back after a sprawling challenge. Hes going to be fine, though. Algeria are far from it - theyre very flat and already seem a little short on ideas. 41 min: Come on the Desert Foxes! writes Neil Matthews. Had my heart broken by AEK Athens last night when they cocked their leg all over a 14 game monster accumulator. If Algeria come back to win this I will ask to be carried around the office like the bloke in that picture. That, I assure you, would be some feat as I work in an office with five women, one of whom has their arm in a sling. Yeah, so, Ill get back to you on the logistics for that... Careful with your dosh, Neil - a couple of emailers have already pointed any would-be gamblers out there in the direction of the chap who backed Angola at 4-0 last night and lost well over four grand for his trouble. 44 min: Algeria have just upped their game a touch without really threatening. Half-time cant come soon enough for them. Peep! Half-time - and plenty of work for Rabah Saadane and his Algeria staff to do during the break. Half-time email dept. Wadabwa means are you surprised? writes Master Sayeed. I bet the Algerians are! Go Malawi! I played football against Karim Ziani at Club Med in Turkey three years ago, writes Robert Kimmels. He was still at Sochaux then, and absolutely schooled me. I decided to abandon any pretence of being a decent amateur footballer there and then. When he went Olympique Marseille, my hopes briefly flickered: Its alright, hes a top player, but after the failed he impose himself there I sunk back into regretful acceptance of mediocrity. How is he playing today? That one gorgeous little scoop-pass apart, hes not really impressed, but his team-mates are hardly helping. Malawis performance so far begs the question: Does African football have greater depth? writes our very own Dileep Premachandran. Malawi would be like the Latvia of African football, and I really cant see Latvia beating the Dutch, the English or any other World Cup-bound side. Id say that Cote DIvoire, Ghana and Cameroon are perhaps a cut above the rest, but there are some awfully good sides in the second rung. Typical stuff from Algeria- underestimating opposition the same way European teams will underestimate us at the World Cup, writes an optimistic Henni Ouahes. I wonder how much our defence is suffering from Anthar Yahias absence. Sounds like a major effort will be needed at half time to rescue honour, and perhaps a point from this game... And heres the puntastic Justin King: Frankly Im shocked your puns have sunk to such lows just because a player is called Elvis. Dont Be Cruel Ashdown, its Too Much, just Surrender, (Youre The) Devil in Disguise. Apologies that the picture above isnt particularly apt. No snapper at the stadium has yet been able to file a picture from the game. Its not really suprising - football and broadband are uncomfortable bedfellows. Out come the players and it doesnt look like either side has made any changes. Peep! Malawi get us restarted. 46 min: So how can Algeria get back into this? Stuart Anders has an idea: I believe that they need to get Ghezzal into the game more. One of the main strengths of the Siena striker is his ability in the air, and he should definately pose some problems for the Malawian defence and goalkeeper who look a little shaky at dealing with crosses. He has been their most potent attacking force, a big muscular chap. But again its Malawi on the offensive early early doors ... GOAL! Malawi 3-0 Algeria (Banda 48) Fawzi Chaouchi hang your head in shame. The keeper flaps utterly hopelessly, atrociously, miserably at a cross, which he palms to the feet of Russell. He should score but bunts his effort of the post, and the rebound eventually drops to Davi Banda who prods home. 50 min: Banda has picked up a knock in scoring that and while Malawi are down to 10 men, the Algerians pour forward and are only denied a goal back thanks to some desperate defending. Robert Ngambi will replace the goalscorer. 52 min: The comedy goalkeeper is a bit of a cliche in African football, but with this display from Chaouchi its not hard to see why. Hes been badly at fault for two of the three goals. 53 min: Sangala makes a bit of a mess of a defensive header and Algeria have a corner ... 54 min: ... now its Sanudis turn to flap at a cross, though he does very well a moment or two later to delfect the ball away from Ghezzal closing in at the far post. He may have knacked his shoulder in doing so, though. 56 min: And another hopeless bit of keeping, again from Sanudi, who gets nowhere near Algerias latest corner. He gets lucky, though, as in the scramble the referee spots a non-existent hand-ball. Was there really no suggestion of a Malawi foul in the build up to Elviss goal? You havent made any reference to one but Im suspicious, mind. I think Adrian Cooper might have spent some time on that one ... 58 min: Saifi pokes an effort at goal, but hes stretching a little too much and its a tame shot straight at Sanudi. 59 min: Ghezzal has a half-decent penalty shout turned down. The Desert Foxes are building up a bit of a head of steam here - just a shame that theyve left it until theyre 3-0 down. 61 min: Somewhat bizarrely ... sorry, no ENTIRELY bizarrely that malingering sperm whale I mentioned earlier has been replaced by what sounds like a 30-piece Mexican Mariachi band. I kid you not. Its all slightly surreal. Ghezzal, trying to drag Algeria back into this on his own, launches a long-range effort well over. 62 min: Bezzal, who plays his club football for Strasbourg, and Ziaya replace Matmour and Saifi for Algeria. I wish I had read these musings on Malawis chances this morning. I emptied my internet betting account on Algeria, presuming Malawi to be no hopers, writes John McBurnie. To make matters worse, the last time Algeria lost the local youth went on a car burning spree in the quaint little French village I live in. I look forward to having no money and the burned remains of a Renault Twingo this evening. 63 min: Russell has been replaced by Chiukepo, with the Malawians main striker struggling with injury. This is a fantastic performance thus far from Malawi but the key to the scoreline is not their attacking flair, its their superior composure and organisation, chimes Tommy Chrimes. The two very things that I did not associate with Malawian football under the previous coach Steve Constantine. Well done coach Phiri! 65 min: A sitter! And its been missed by the substitute Ziaya. A free header, little more than five yards from goal, and hes nodded it high and wide. 67 min: Algeria are throwing almost every outfield player forward for set pieces, and Malawi are wobbling. If they nick one, I can see them doing a Mali here. The Mariachi band have cranked it up a gear or two - Malawi 3, Algeria 0, in front of an empty stadium, to the banging strains of speed Mariachi. This tournament is a wonder, it really is. 69 min: This has gone all Training Match. Algeria have the ball, Malawi sit back and say Give it your best shot. With 20 minutes to go its a little risky, but the north Africans havent been able to break through yet. 71 min: Sangala is the latest Malawian to go down. Theyve no more subs left, so theyll be hoping his shoulder-knack isnt serious. 72 min: It could, probably should, have been four. Again Chaouchi is culpable. Wadabwa has a punt from distance that bobbles straight at the keeper, but somehow he manages to spill it, misjudging it so badly that it loops up to, I think, Kanyedas head. He plants his header wide. 74 min: People have started laughing at me in the office. Ive just forgetten myself and yelped: You hopeless, hopeless goalkeeper. These two have driven me to it. Sanudis at it this time, charging out for a cross and dropping the ball - Mponda scrambles it away. 76 min: Jimmy Zakazaka replaces Wadabwa, so Ive clearly miscounted Malawis subs. Chaouchi is, of course, the Algerian reserve keeper who did so well against Egypt in the play off, writes Henni Ouahes. Our experienced No1 is back in Algeria with appendicitis. Doubt hell be worrying about the No1 jersey in South Africa. Chaouchi should stick to dancing on Algerian TV . 79 min: Hameur Bouazza - once of Fulham and Watford, now part of Ian Holloways impressive Blackpool side - replaces Ghezzal. 80 min: Yebda volleys into the stratosphere from 12 yards. Ive just realised that, much like Malawi, youre onto a winner here, notes Adrian Cooper, a dog with a bone smeared in pun. You get first dibs on all of the Elvis gags. You can use the best ones and make it hard for anyone covering their later games. Chances like this only come along once in a Blue Moon. 82 min: Speaking of Elvis Kafoteka - hes really impressed me. Hes had Belhadj and Yebda to deal with on his side and has done so with some ease, not to mention that thumping header. Ziani picks up a booking for a nasty high tackle. 84 min: Belhadj zips in a lovely cross, which is again well dealt with by the Malawi central defenders, both of whom have also played excellently, more so when you consider the, shall we say, extravangances of the goalkeeper behind them. 86 min: To be fair to Constantine, it was his decision to invest in youth that started Malawis upswing, writes Dileep Premachandran in response to Tommy Chrimes (63 min). A bit like the work he did with India really. Bob Houghton is getting the plaudits now, and deservedly so, but it was the Constantine-coached win against Vietnam in 2003 that was the start of Indias [relative] revival. The fact that he lost his first six matches in charge of Malawi merely illustrates that change is not a painless process. Time is ticking away for Algeria now. 87 min: This result really will blow the group wide open - and you certainly wouldnt be surprised to see the Flames of Malawi progress to the knockout stages on this evidence. Ziaya goes down looking for a penalty, but optimistic really doesnt do it justice. 89 min: Four minutes of added time to be played. 90+1 min: Im sat in dreary Stoke Newington watching what must be one of the most lacklustre performances Ive seen in a long time. Even my Algerian girlfriend has fallen into a deep sleep, writes a frustrated George Taylor. The only way I could have imagined Les Fennecs getting anything out of that game is if Karim Ziani had somehow got onto the end of one his own crosses. Terrible. 90+3 min: Malawi are playing keep ball, the excellent Kamwendo to the fore, backed by what I am now convinced is the horn section from Calexico. Another awful Algeria pass rolls apologetically out of play. Peep! Peep! Peeeeep! Algeria force a late a corner, but for the umpteenth time the delivery is shoddy and the desire in the box is non-existent. And thats it! Malawi have their first ever victory in the Cup of Nations ... Crink M ..
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 19:41:01 +0000
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