Egypt 2-0 Ethiopia Player Ratings: Omar Marmoush 8/10 Rated as Pharaohs Cruise to 2-0 Victory

The home side delivered a composed, professional performance you'd expect from a team with serious World Cup ambitions. They thrashed the visitors 2-0 at the iconic Cairo International Stadium. This result keeps their WC Qualifiers Africa campaign firmly on track. The match was decided in a dominant first-half spell from Egypt. The Pharaohs controlled the tempo and possession from the opening whistle.

Ethiopia struggled to cope with the pressure and their defensive indiscipline proved costly. They conceded two penalties before the halftime break, which ultimately sealed their fate. Mohamed Salah calmly converted the first spot-kick, setting the tone for the evening. Shortly after, Omar Marmoush followed the footsteps of the country's icon, effectively ending the contest. The second half was a more subdued affair. Egypt managed the game expertly, content to see out the result without expending too much energy. Ethiopia showed a little more fight but lacked the quality to trouble the Egyptian backline. Here are the Egypt vs Ethiopia player ratings.

Egypt Player Ratings vs Ethiopia

Here are the Egypt player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Mohamed El Shenawy - 6.5: Honestly, he could have brought a book to read. Ethiopia offered next to nothing going forward, leaving him as a spectator for most of the match. He claimed a couple of crosses confidently, but was never truly tested. A clean sheet is a clean sheet, but it was one of the easiest he'll ever earn.

Defenders

Khaled Sobhi - 6.0: A bit of a mixed bag from Sobhi. He was part of a defence that kept a clean sheet, which is the main job. However, that first-half yellow card was rash and unnecessary. It stood out to us as a moment of indiscipline in an otherwise controlled performance from his team. He needs to iron that out of his game.

Mohamed Hany - 6.5: A quiet but effective performance from the right-back. He was defensively sound and didn't give the Ethiopian attackers any room to breathe. Didn't offer a huge amount going forward but he didn't need to. A very professional and no-nonsense display from him.

Rami Rabia - 7.0: We were impressed with Rabia at the heart of the defence. He was calm, composed, and read the game exceptionally well. He marshalled the backline with authority and ensured there were no slip-ups. His positioning was excellent throughout, making several key interceptions before any danger could develop.

Mohamed Hamdi - 6.5: Much like Hany on the other flank, Hamdi put in a solid defensive shift. He supported the attack when needed but his priority was clearly to keep things tight at the back. He dealt with his defensive duties with minimal fuss, contributing to a very comfortable evening for the Egyptian backline.

Midfielders

Mahmoud Trezeguet - 6.5: Trezeguet was full of energy and running before he was substituted. He looked to drive at the Ethiopian defence and create opportunities. What was missing was that final bit of quality in his decision-making. A decent, hard-working performance without a true standout moment.

Mohamed Salah - 7.5: The captain led by example. He was a constant threat and showed nerves of steel to slot home the opening penalty that broke the deadlock. From our perspective, his movement and presence alone unsettle defenders. He was rightly subbed off late for a rest with the job done. A classy performance.

Hamdy Fathy - 7.0: The unsung hero in the middle of the park. Fathy's work rate was immense, covering every blade of grass to break up play and recycle possession. He provided the solid platform that allowed the attacking players to flourish. An understated but crucial performance for the team's balance.

Zizo - 6.0: Had a relatively quiet hour on the pitch. He linked up play neatly in midfield but failed to impose himself on the game in a meaningful way. He kept the ball moving but we expected a little more creativity from him before he was withdrawn. A steady, if unspectacular, outing.

Forwards

Osama Faisal - 6.0: A frustrating night for the striker. He worked hard and made some good runs, but he was often isolated and the service into him wasn't great. He chased down defenders and made a nuisance of himself, but he never got a clear sight of goal. You can't fault his effort, though.

Omar Marmoush - 8.0: What a performance. Our man of the match. He was a livewire from the start, and his confidence to step up and bury the second penalty just before halftime was fantastic. His direct running and skill caused all sorts of problems for the opposition. He was a constant threat and deserved his goal.

Substitutes

Ibrahim Adel - 6.0: Came on for Zizo and showed some nice touches but the game was already won.

Mohanad Lasheen - 6.0: Replaced the brilliant Marmoush and helped see the game out.

Mostafa Mohamed - N/A: Didn't have enough time to make an impact.

Nabil Emad Dunga - N/A: Brought on to give Salah a rest in the final minutes.

Manager

H. Hussein - 7.5: Got his tactics spot on. His team came out with purpose, pressed high, and killed the game off in the first half. His substitutions were sensible, allowing him to rest key players like Salah and Marmoush. A perfect game plan that was executed almost flawlessly by his players.

Ethiopia Player Ratings vs Egypt

Here are the Ethiopia player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Abubeker Nura - 5.5: It's a tough night for any keeper when you concede two penalties. He couldn't have done much about either of them, as they were well-struck. Outside of the goals, he wasn't tested too often, which says more about Egypt's game management than his own abilities. A helpless spectator to his team's downfall.

Defenders

Ramkel James - 5.0: He was part of a defensive unit that looked shaky and ill-disciplined. He struggled to deal with the movement of Egypt's forwards. It was a long and difficult night for him, constantly being pulled out of position.

Suleman Hamid - 4.5: A really poor performance. He picked up a needless yellow card and seemed off the pace throughout. He was one of the primary culprits for his team's defensive frailties and it was no surprise to see him substituted. A night he will want to forget quickly.

Yared Baye - 5.5: As the captain, he tried his best to organize a chaotic backline, but it was a thankless task. You could see his frustration building as the game went on. He made a few decent challenges but was ultimately overwhelmed by the superior quality of the opposition.

Asrat Tonjo - 5.0: Just like his defensive partners, Tonjo had a torrid time. He was often caught ball-watching and struggled with the pace and intelligence of the Egyptian attack. He was part of a defence that conceded twice and offered very little resistance.

Midfielders

Canaan Markneh - 5.5: He ran a lot but had very little influence on the game. The midfield battle was completely lost from the first minute. He was chasing shadows for large periods, unable to get on the ball and make anything happen for his team. Subbed off late on.

Yared Moges - 5.5: Similar to Markneh, he put in a lot of effort but lacked the quality to make a difference. He was bypassed with ease by the Egyptian midfielders. He tried to get stuck in but it wasn't enough to disrupt Egypt's rhythm.

Forwards

Bereket Desta - 5.0: A completely anonymous performance. He was left totally isolated up front with absolutely no service. He must have been incredibly frustrated, as he spent the entire match chasing lost causes and watching the game pass him by. Didn't get a sniff of a chance.

Beneyam Demte - 5.5: Showed a little more fight than some of his teammates and tried to make things happen on his own. However, he was easily marshalled by the Egyptian defence. His efforts were admirable, but he ultimately lacked the support and quality to make an impact.

Wogene Gezahegn - 5.0: Another attacker who was starved of service and left to feed on scraps. He ran the channels but never looked like a threat to the Egyptian goal. His performance was characterized by hard work but zero end product before he was substituted.

Substitutes

Hayder Sherefa - 5.5: Came on at halftime but couldn't change the flow of the game.

Chernet Gugsa - 5.5: Added some fresh legs, but the contest was already over.

Mohammed Abera - N/A: Little time to make any sort of impact.

Manager

M. Teferi Kassa - 4.5: From our perspective, his game plan was wrong from the start. His team looked disorganized and defensively naive, leading to the concession of two cheap penalties. They offered nothing in attack and looked completely outmatched across the park. A very tough lesson for him and his team.