Ivory Coast beat Equatorial Guinea in Afcon
Drogba, Toure send Elephants to semis
Posted: Feb 4 2012
Africa Cup of Nations co-hosts Equatorial Guinea faced their biggest challenge of the tournament so far on Saturday night when they took on favourites Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals, and it was the Elephants who came out on top at the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo with a 3-0 win.
Didier Drogba put his side ahead in the first half with his 53rd goal in Ivorian colours, before making it 2-0 with his 54th strike for the Elephants. Yaya Toure finished the game off with a top quality free kick to make it 3-0.
Following a minute of silence in memory of the Egyptian victims involved in Wednesday's tragic clashes, the Ivorians made their intentions clear early on with a second minute chance, but Drogba's side-footed volley did not trouble Equatorial Guinea keeper Danilo.
On eight minutes Ivory Coast created another chance out of nothing, with Max Gradel taking a strike from long distance, but his powerful effort skipped just wide of Danilo's post. The Nzalang Nationale threatened on occasion, with counterattacks proving to be their weapon of choice, but the Elephants were the dominant side throughout the first half.
In the 22nd minute Gervinho pulled off a great dribble to find some space within the box, but his shot was saved before a succession of shots from Yaya Toure and then Gradel were blocked by the determined co-host defence.
In the 27th minute the Elephants won a penalty when an onrushing Didier Zokora was brought down in the box, but 29-year-old Equatorial Guinea keeper Danilo stretched wide to make an incredible save from Drogba's spot kick, keeping it goalless.
But the Chelsea striker would not need to wait long to make up for his miss, and in the 36th minute the Elephants took the lead when Drogba did well to turn two Nzalang Nationale defenders before finishing with a typically precise strike in the bottom corner that left an in-form Danilo beaten and bewildered.
Both sides displayed flashes of brilliant passing ability, but Equatorial Guinea finished the half well with a promising strike from Randy Iyanga, but Copa Barry was equal to the task and the first half ended 1-0.
Ivory Coast trainer Francois Zahoui seemed agitated on the bench, perhaps sensing that the one goal would not be enough to defeat the co-hosts, but at this stage much of the play took place in midfield, until the hour mark when Gradel pulled off a mesmerising dribble in the box before his pass couldn't find Gervinho and was intercepted by the defence.
Gilson Paulo's men would suffer further heartache in the 69th minute, however, as Drogba scored his second of the encounter with a bullet header from a pinpoint Yaya Toure cross, making it 2-0 for the Afcon favourites.
The Ivorians were not yet done, however, and in the 81st minute Yaya Toure made put it beyond the co-hosts with a sublime free kick that would have beaten any goalkeeper, crashing off the inside of the post and into the top corner of the goal. The last few minutes of the match were uneventful, with a long range effort from Rui Fernando proving to be the co-hosts' last contribution to this Afcon, as it ended 3-0 in favour of Ivory Coast.
The Elephants are yet to concede a goal in the tournament thus far, and will be feeling confident after sending out an impressive message to the other teams still involved. The co-hosts should be proud of their efforts at the Afcon, as this was their debut in the competition and they did well to reach the last eight.
Ivory Coast progress to the semi-finals of the 2012 Afcon to be played on Wednesday, where they will face the winner of Sunday's quarter-final clash between Mali and co-hosts Gabon.
: 2012-02-04 23:26
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