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Reuters
May 31 2014
Algeria sweep aside Armenia in festive atmosphere
By Brian Homewood
Reuters) - Algeria belied their status as World Cup outsiders blasting
three first-half goals on their way to a comprehensive 3-1 win over
Armenia in a festive atmosphere in Sion on Saturday.
Around 12,000 drum-banging, chanting Algerian fans turned the tiny
Tourbillon in the usually sleepy Swiss Alpine town into a cauldron,
appearing to unnerve their opponents in the first half.
Essaid Belkalem, Nabil Ghilas and Islam Slimani scored before halftime
as Algeria gave a performance which suggested they could more than
hold their own against Belgium, Russia and South Korea in Group H at
the Brazil finals.
Bathed in evening sunshine and surrounded by snow-capped peaks, the
Tourbillon provided a stunning setting for a match which saw Leicester
City midfielder Riyad Mahrez make an impressive debut for Algeria.
Defender Belkalem, who struggled to get playing time at Watford last
season, put Algeria ahead in the 13th minute, turning the ball in from
close range following a corner as Rafik Halliche's run distracted the
defense.
The Fennec Foxes increased their lead nine minutes later when Mahrez
slipped the ball to Ghilas on his right and the Porto player rifled an
emphatic finish into the roof of the net.
Algeria continued to pull the Armenians apart with lots of neat moves
from the midfield trio of Mehdi Lacen, Yacine Brahimi and Adlene
Guedioura.
French-raised Brahimi, in particular, brought the crowd to their feet
with his cheeky skills.
Slimani missed two chances to put Algeria ahead but the Sporting
forward finally converted three minutes before halftime, heading in
the rebound after Ghilas's header had struck the bar.
Armenia, 33rd in the FIFA rankings compared to Algeria's 25, pulled
one back within a minute of the re-start when halftime substitute
Artur Sarkisov burst clear and beat Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche with a
low shot.
The game went off the boil in the second half although substitute El
Arabi Soudani brought the crowd to their feet with a weaving run but
was denied by Roman Berezovski's save.
(Reporting By Brian Homewood; Editing by Rex Gowar)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/31/us-soccer-friendly-algeria-idUSKBN0EB0RH20140531
May 31 2014
Algeria sweep aside Armenia in festive atmosphere
By Brian Homewood
Reuters) - Algeria belied their status as World Cup outsiders blasting
three first-half goals on their way to a comprehensive 3-1 win over
Armenia in a festive atmosphere in Sion on Saturday.
Around 12,000 drum-banging, chanting Algerian fans turned the tiny
Tourbillon in the usually sleepy Swiss Alpine town into a cauldron,
appearing to unnerve their opponents in the first half.
Essaid Belkalem, Nabil Ghilas and Islam Slimani scored before halftime
as Algeria gave a performance which suggested they could more than
hold their own against Belgium, Russia and South Korea in Group H at
the Brazil finals.
Bathed in evening sunshine and surrounded by snow-capped peaks, the
Tourbillon provided a stunning setting for a match which saw Leicester
City midfielder Riyad Mahrez make an impressive debut for Algeria.
Defender Belkalem, who struggled to get playing time at Watford last
season, put Algeria ahead in the 13th minute, turning the ball in from
close range following a corner as Rafik Halliche's run distracted the
defense.
The Fennec Foxes increased their lead nine minutes later when Mahrez
slipped the ball to Ghilas on his right and the Porto player rifled an
emphatic finish into the roof of the net.
Algeria continued to pull the Armenians apart with lots of neat moves
from the midfield trio of Mehdi Lacen, Yacine Brahimi and Adlene
Guedioura.
French-raised Brahimi, in particular, brought the crowd to their feet
with his cheeky skills.
Slimani missed two chances to put Algeria ahead but the Sporting
forward finally converted three minutes before halftime, heading in
the rebound after Ghilas's header had struck the bar.
Armenia, 33rd in the FIFA rankings compared to Algeria's 25, pulled
one back within a minute of the re-start when halftime substitute
Artur Sarkisov burst clear and beat Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche with a
low shot.
The game went off the boil in the second half although substitute El
Arabi Soudani brought the crowd to their feet with a weaving run but
was denied by Roman Berezovski's save.
(Reporting By Brian Homewood; Editing by Rex Gowar)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/31/us-soccer-friendly-algeria-idUSKBN0EB0RH20140531