ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, Feb 3 – Oumar Diakite scored with the last play of the game as 10-man Ivory Coast beat Mali 2-1 in extra time to storm into the semi-final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Ivorians, who were reduced to 10 men in the first half after Odilon Kossounou was sent off two minutes to the break had come from a goal down, with substitute Simon Adingra scoring at the stroke of 90 minutes to level the scores and send the game to extra time.
And, the drama didn’t stop there as once again, they scored late, Diakite winning the game in the second minute of added extra time and getting sent off for a second yellow for his celebrations.
Mali were also reduced to 10 men, but after the final whistle when skipper Hamari Traore was handed a straight red for manhandling the referee.
Mali will have themselves to blame after failing to make the most of their numerical advantage, and also missed an early penalty.
They were handed a way into the lead after 16 minutes when Kossounou brought down Lacine Sinayoko inside the box, but Adama Traore saw his penalty saved. They were however saved from the blushes in the 71st minute when Ivory Coast born Dorgeles Nene smashed the ball into the net with a sensational curling effort from the edge of the box.
But once again, just like it was against Senegal in the round of 16, Ivory Coast scored late on, Adingra smashing the ball into the net from close range after Seko Fofana’s shot was blocked.
The game was then forced into extra time and when it seemed penalties would decide the winner, the Ivorians once again scored late.
Diakite flicked on a long range volleyed shot from Seko Fofana, to break the Malian hearts.
