Ivory Coast through to semis
Didier Drogba led the line well for the Elephants
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Sunday, 03, Feb 2008 10:39
Didier Drogba was again on the scoresheet as the Ivory Coast beat Guinea 5-0 to reach the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations in Sekondi.
The Chelsea striker scored his third goal of the tournament with a clinical finish after Abdelkader Keita had broken the deadlock.
Drogba then set-up his Blues team-mate Salomon Kalou for the Elephant's third goal, with Kalou later grabbing his second from close range. Baki Kone completed the rout four minutes from time.
The first-half was a drab affair with both teams struggling in the stifling heat.
The Elephants took the lead with the first clear-cut chance on 25 minutes when Keita won possession on the edge of the box and unleashed a venomous effort into the middle of the goal from a tight angle which goalkeeper Kemoko Camara should have kept out.
Ivory Coast continued to carve out the better chances, with Aruna Dindane blazing over from 25 yards out ten minutes before the break.
While he was at fault for the goal, Camara redeemed himself with a stunning double save to keep out low strikes from Dindane and Saloman Kalou.
Keita then came agonisingly close to a stunning goal for the tournament favourites with a ferocious effort from the right side of the area that skimmed the crossbar. Guinea then went up the other end and forced Boubacar Barry into a smart save after a low strike from Ismael Bangoura.
Camara produced another world class save on the stroke of half-time after tipping Drogba's curling effort over the bar.
The second-half sprang into life on 62 minutes when Daouda Jabi fired a free-kick from the edge of the box inches from goal.
Dindade should have sealed victory eight minutes later when the Lens striker glanced a header wide with the goal at his mercy.
Drogba proved more clinical in front of goal a minute later after being sent through by Arthur Boka, the Blues striker barged through two defenders before firing the ball past Camara to make it 2-0.
Two minutes later, Drogba turned provider when he found Kalou who rounded the keeper and walked the ball over the line. The onslaught continued with Kalou netting his second on 81 minutes, while Koune made it 5-0 with a piledriver from 20 yards.