score football magazine

Africa 2008
Ghana
Sunday February 3rd

Ghana Agogo through

Hosts Ghana are through to the semi-finals thanks to a late goal from Junior Agogo, despite having their captain Mensah sent off. Ghana enjoyed more possession in the first half and Asamoah Gyan struck the post in the 24th minute with a shot from outside the box. Uche was clear on goal for Nigeria in the 31st minute but his weak shot did not test the keeper. Three minutes later Nigeria were awarded a penalty which Yakubu dispatched low into the bottom corner, but Michael Essien scored for Ghana with a powerful header off the post in the last action of the first half. A minute into the second half, having come out to head the ball away, Kingson had to rush back to tip Yakubu's 40-yard lob over the bar. Ghana suffered a blow in the 59th minute when their skipper John Mensah received his marching orders for a professional foul on Odemwingie who was racing towards the box with only the keeper to beat, but with 7 minutes of the match left Muntari delivered the ball across the face of the goal for Junior Agogo to tap in and take 10-man Ghana through amid huge celebrations. (Ghana 2 Nigeria 1)

yakubu
Yakubu converts penalty
Sunday February 3rd

Elephants crush Guinea

Ivory Coast demolished Guinea to reach the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. Kader Keita opened the scoring in the 25th minute when his angled shot arrowed past the keeper at the near post. The first half came to an explosive end with Camara making a double save for Guinea to deny Aruna and Kalou in the 43rd minute, and Barry getting down a minute later at the other end to hold onto a shot from Bangoura. Keita saw his shot across the face of the goal narrowly miss the target in the 45th minute and in time added on, Drogba aimed for the top corner but had his effort brilliantly saved by Camara. After Jabi sees his shot from a free-kick flash past the post in the 62nd minute, the Ivorians take complete control of the match. Aruna rounded the keeper in the 68th minute only to miss an open goal, but 2 minutes later Drogba ran into the box and slid the ball past the keeper to give the Elephants a cushion. It was Kalou's turn to round the keeper 2 minutes later and having seen Aruna's earlier miss he walked the ball in for the third. Yaya Toure ran through to the by-line in the 81st minute and squared the ball back for Kalou to find the empty net, and 5 minutes later Baki Kone smashed the ball into the back of the net from outside the area leaving the keeper rooted. (Ivory Coast 5 Guinea 0)

didier drogba
Didier Drogba scores against Guinea

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