Mali smash three past Malawi
Mali smash three past Malawi
Posted: 2010-01-18 20:57
For once Mali lived up to the expectations that were stuck on them because of their star studded team, but the 3-1 win over Malawi was not enough to earn them a spot in the next round.
Both Malawi and Mali were eliminated from the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations despite Mali running over the Flames as early as the 2nd minute of the game with two quick goals from Frederick Kanoute and Keita respectively opening the game in favour of the Malians.
Mali needed all three points and a massive goal difference to progress to the knockout stages while Malawi needed just a draw to go through to the next round of the tournament which they last took part in 26 years ago.
The Stephen Keshi coached outfit meant business from the start scoring the fastest goal of the tournament so far from the boot of the evergreen Kanoute in just 37 seconds which was followed by Keita’s hot free kick in the 2nd minute.
Frederick Kanoute showed his class pouncing on a loose ball that fell in his path after the Malawian goalkeeper’s unforgivable error as he parried the ball back into play much to the confusion of his packed backline.
Seydou Keita’s well taken free-kick just outside the box found its way through to the back of the net, sending the crowd into fits as the stunning goal put Mali into the driving seat.
For all the failings of the first half in terms of entertainment value on the side of Malawi, the second was a much improved spectacle with both teams throwing more bodies forward.
Perhaps spurred on by Kinnah Phiri‘s tough halftime talk, Malawi emerged in the second period with a renewed sense of purpose and with the much required vigor going forward.
Russel Mwafulirwa pulled a goal back in the 58th minute after some scrappy defensive work from the Mali rearguard.
Two minutes after Mafulirwa’s goal Mali made another change throwing Mamadou Diallo into the fray for El Hadj Mahamane Traoré. Sanudi was called to duty once again in the 61st minute as he denied Keita a second goal of the match with a fine save, punching the stinging snap shot out for a corner.
In the 70th minute Mwafulirwa missed a sitter as his misdirected header bounced of the ground and over the bar. Another chance went begging as it was easier to score fom that range especially with the keeper in no man’s land.
The man in black blew the final whistle much to the disappointment of Mali who had already received the news of the score in the other game - Angola 0-0 Algeria, meaning that both those teams made it through to the next round.
: 2010-01-19 07:47
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