FOOTBALL – Algeria substitute Adil Boulbina slammed home a last-gasp winner a minute from the end of extra time as his side overcame the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 yesterday to book a place in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.
Later, winger Amad Diallo scored one goal and created another to continue his excellent form in Morocco as defending champions Ivory Coast eased past Burkina Faso 3-0 in their round-of-16 fixture.
Just as the round-of-16 tie was headed to a penalty shootout, Boulbina cut in off the left wing before unleashing a dipping shot that flew in, clipping the underside of the crossbar on the way.
It was as much as the more enterprising Algerians deserved, having created more opportunities throughout the toughly contested encounter.
Algeria will now be up against Nigeria in their quarter-final tie in Marrakesh on Saturday.
Algeria dominated the early stages at the Stade Moulay El Hassan as the Congolese adopted a cautious approach, and flying fullback Rafik Belghali caused panic when he whipped in a 21st-minute cross that DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba, in his effort to clear, almost turned into his own net.
But by the midway point of the half, DR Congo had forged a good chance of their own with a breakaway from Cedric Bakambu that forced a save from Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane. The resultant corner was headed narrowly wide by Axel Tuanzebe.
Both sides traded rare chances as Ibrahima Maza went close to the target three minutes before halftime, and Mbemba had a back-post effort from a corner blocked in the 59th minute.
Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez made little contribution but, before being taken off in the 70th minute, drove his free kick narrowly over the Congolese crossbar.
His teammates, however, probed in the closing stages and saw Mohamed Amoura strike an effort from an angle straight at the Congolese goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who made another smart stop to deny substitute Anis Hadj Moussa in the 86th minute.
In extra time, substitute Baghdad Bounedjah miscued a chance, and when he did connect properly soon after, forced a fumble out of Mpasi, but the goalkeeper recovered quickly.
Mpasi, a reserve at Ligue 1’s Le Havre, then kept his side in the contest with two sharp saves from Fares Chaibi in the final 10 minutes of extra time but there was nothing he could do to stop Boulbina’s piledriver.
“I believe we deserved to win based on what our players delivered,” said Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic. “We controlled two-thirds of the match and played good football, even though we faced some challenges during the game. I think we managed the match professionally.”
For DR Congo coach Sebastien Desabre it was a disappointing outcome. “Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on our side, but I have no complaints about the players. We must hold our heads high because we gave everything we had,” he added.
Ivory Coast will face record seven-time winners Egypt in a heavyweight quarter-final in Agadir on Saturday, a colossal clash that is a repeat of the 2006 decider where the North African side triumphed on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
Yan Diomande and Bazoumana Toure were also on target for coach Emerse Fae’s team as they dominated the contest against the out-gunned Burkinabe and might have won by a greater margin but for some excellent goalkeeping from Herve Koffi.
Diallo, 23, will go back to a new manager at Manchester United after the finals in Morocco having been one of the stand-out players at the tournament so far with three goals and an assist, driving the Ivorians’ impressive title defence.
“There’s this understanding on the field, this closeness between us, which makes our game easier,” Diallo said.
“There is a real connection, a kind of little twist in the way we play. No one is trying to be the hero or shine individually.”
Compared to how they stuttered to the title on home soil two years ago, the Ivorians have been hugely impressive in Morocco and this was arguably their most dominant display of the competition to date.
They took the lead in the 20th minute thanks to a superb solo effort from Diallo, who danced his way past three defenders before a fortunate deflection allowed him to lift the ball over the goalkeeper and into the roof of the net.
It was 2-0 on 32 minutes and no more than the Ivorians deserved for their positive attacking play.
This time Diallo was the creator as his trickery on the right wing ended with a low cross that was cleverly left by Franck Kessie and the ball reached Diomande, who side-footed into the net from 18 yards.
The Burkinabe were inches away from pulling a goal back as Dango Ouattara’s shot from a tight angle hit the post, but it proved a rare bright moment.
The Ivorians kept pushing forward and would end with 21 shots at goal, with one of those leading to their third score on 87 minutes.
Toure broke free on the left-hand side of the box and with Koffi perhaps expecting a cross, the teenage winger instead netted at the near post for his second of the campaign.
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