Bony-inspired Ivorians thump Algeria

Quarterfinals Ghana 3-0 Guinea Ivory Coast 3-1 Algeria Ivory Coast defeated Algeria 3-1 with two goals by Wilfried Bony to send the Elephants into the Africa Nations Cup semifinal against DR Congo. Bony opened the scoring before El Arabi Soudani levelled, Bony scored the second and then Gervinho wrapped up the game. Algeria started well and the opening ten minutes they had most of the ball possession and kept Ivory Coast on the back foot. In the 15th minute, though, the Ivorians got a breakaway and Gervinho tore down the right before sending in a cross that somehow missed all of his teammates and Algeria were off the hook. Then in the 23rd minute Serge Aurier got up high at the far post to head a deep free kick against the upright. The ball rebounded back into play, but somehow Wilfried Bony could not steady himself in time to get a shot on target. But just three minutes later Bony made sure to put his team ahead with a 26th minute headed goal at the back post following a wonderful cross by Max Gradel to pick him out. The ball was played in early and curled in behind the defenders to find Bony. Algeria equalized when El Arabi Soudani netted from close range after doing brilliantly to compose himself and blast the ball home following some poor defending and an excellent Riyad Mahrez cross from the left wing. Algeria began to take a stranglehold on the match after the goal and came close to scoring in the 66th minute when a chance was cleared off the line. But then the game swung back into the Ivorians’ favour when Bony struck again. Yaya Toure delivered a telling near post free kick, and Bony got in front of his marker to power the ball home. Poor marking from Algeria’s defence though. Gervinho made it 3-0 with a cool finish in the dying seconds of the game after Algeria had pushed men forward and left gaps at the back.

Sports

Bony-inspired Ivorians thump Algeria