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In what will go down as the most exciting match of the ongoing Nations Cup, a veritable advertisement for Africa football, Algeria on Sunday played the match of their lives to oust the Elephants 3-2 in 120 minutes of pulsating football.
For a team that scored only one goal going into the quarter final, the 40th and 90th minute equalisers by Algeria’s Matmour and Bougherra and the winner in the 2nd minute of extra time by Bouazza produced the shock of the tournament as favourites Cote D’Ivoire were bundled out in emphatic fashion
Favoured to overrun their North African counterparts, the Ivoriens did not disappoint when in the 4th minute, midfielder Yahaya Toure shrugged off three Algerians to take a shot that deflected off Belhadj to an unmarked Salomon Kalou who beat Chaouchi in the Algerian goal for the curtain raiser.
Thirty six minutes later, Matmour pounced on a free ball and wriggled himself between Tioto and Kole Toure to hammer pass Barry in the Ivorien goal.
The teams returned for the second half and there was nothing to separate them until substitute Keita let fly what was supposed to be the match winner in the 89th minute.
As the celebration was going on in the Ivorien camp, the resolute Algerians launched an offensive and a cross met unmarked Bougherra whose header hit the ground before beating Barry in the 90th minute.
Extra time produced all the drama as the Algerians effectively took control of the match and effectively outplayed their more illustrious counterparts, exposing all the weak points in the Ivorien defence and it was a miracle that they did not score three goals in quick succession.
As the clocked ticked towards the final whistle, the Algerians grew more confident, just as the Ivoriens desperately searched for the goal that would have taken the match to penalties but it was not to be as referee Maillet’s whistle brought the match to a dramatic end.
Source: CAF
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