Favourites lose out as Algeria pull through

Algeria 3 Ivory Coast 2: SUBSTITUTE HAMEUR Bouazza scored the decisive goal two minutes into extra-time as Algeria dumped pre-tournament favourites Ivory Coast out in Cabinda.

In what was an impressive display by Rabah Saadane’s team, they were twice forced to come from behind having trailed to a Salomon Kalou strike and then a Kader Keita effort at the death.

In between, Karim Matmour scored an equaliser just before half-time, before a Madjid Bougherra header took the tie into extra-time. But Blackpool forward Bouzza netted a dramatic winner two minutes after coming on to hand his side a well-deserved win against Vahid Halilhodzic’s below par Elephants.

It was a dramatic turnaround after the Algerians looked nervous through the opening exchanges and fell behind four minutes in.

Yaya Toure’s shot was deflected into the path of Kalou on the right side of the penalty area and the Chelsea striker executed a low finish beyond Faouzi Chaouchi at the near post.

Algerian pressure eventually told five minutes before half-time when Matmour forcing his way in between two defenders and finishing emphatically.

Keita smashed in a 25-yard screamer that went in off the upright and looked to have won the game with just a minute to play.

Enter stoppage time and the Algerians refused to give in. A sweeping cross from the left, along with sloppy defending from the Ivorian defence, allowed Bougherra in and the Rangers defender headed in powerfully.

The Elephants looked shell-shocked and their opponents took full advantage less than two minutes into extra-time.

Bouazza was unmarked at the far post and leapt to nod in Ziani’s cross from the left to for Algeria’s winning goal.

Angola 0 Ghana 1

AN EARLY goal from Asamoah Gyan crushed the dreams of the host nation as Ghana eliminated Angola yesterday.

Gyan struck a perfectly weighted through ball from Kwadwo Asamoah wide of Angola’s goalkeeper Carlos Fernandez for the decisive goal in the 16th minute.

But the home team squandered several chances to turn around the score and have only themselves to blame for not making better use of their opportunities.

Striker Manucho was a major culprit, missing with a close shot that skied high over the Ghana goal on the stroke of half-time and then directing a 73rd minute header wide of goal.

He also had a header saved by Ghanas goalkeeper Richard Kingson in the 30th minute, finding himself unmarked at the back post after a cross but directing the ball straight at the keeper.

There were two more chances for the hosts as centre back Kali went forward to join the attack. He missed a header on the stroke of half-time and had a bouncing effort cleared off the line by Isaac Vorsah deep into stoppage time.

“This is what happens in football. I tried my best,” said Manucho immediately after the match.

Ghana’s only first-half chance provided the goal, after a visionary pass from Udinese’s highly-rated Asamoah. After the interval they bothered the Angola goalkeeper on only two occasions with half chances.

“We did much better than Ghana, especially in the second half, but we couldn’t break them down,” said Angola’s coach Manuel Jose. “We have to congratulate our side on getting to this stage. We just didn’t have the luck today.”

Ghana will next play in Thursdays semi-final against the winner of today’s quarter-final between Nigeria and Zambia in Lubango.