The favorites of Benin is stopped – Senegal, and move on to the semi-finals. Nigeria wins its game against South Africa. For the first time, the Video referee is used.
The wild trip of the “squirrel” is coming to an end – Benin to Senegal, just with 0:1 (0:0) defeated and eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup. The ultimate goal Idrissa Gueye scored in the 70. Minute. Nevertheless, Benin head held high, and can go home – the small West African country had never previously achieved the knockout round of the tournament and also in the quarter-finals, wacker beaten.
Senegal continued his impressive series, only one of their last eleven games lost. 22. the FIFA world rankings still had trouble with the stark outsider Benin (88. the rank list). As expected, the Senegalese began their Superstar Sadio Mané from the Liverpool researchers, and self-aware, and thronged the “squirrel” wide in their own half.
A moment of shock, there was already in the 3. Minute when the Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal had to pause the game: Kalidou Koulibaly and Benin striker Mickael Poté were collided in the penalty area with the heads violently together. Poté, who once played for Dynamo Dresden and two goals in the tournament made, had to be dealt with, but could play more.
A slight advantage for Senegal
The first shot knockout in the 13th. Minute – but was whistled for offside position. After 24 minutes Cebio Soukou dared the first attempt on the pages of Benin – his shot went wide left of the goal. Much more dangerous was it only moments later, as a Poté a free-kick the Ball with the hoe effort and the goal only narrowly missed out. The best Chance of the game went to the Mavericks, the defensive came up tactics in the first half.
Benin goalkeeper Saturnin Allagbe had a lot to do, but had to grab just behind
Soukou, the to Arminia Bielefeld in the 2. Bundesliga is changed, made shortly before the end of the 1. Mid-term re-caused a stir. He committed to drive the Ball into the goal, but, before that, a Foul. The goal did not count. Senegal, which had, until then, more possession of the ball, played out also for some goal-area scenes.
Cheeky “squirrel” hold out for long against
But it was again Poté, the the set the first exclamation mark in the second round, as he in the 47. Minute totally free to the shot, the Senegalese goalkeeper but effortlessly parrying could came. On the other hand, the referee denied the goal from Mané free-kick, the permission due to an offside position (53.).
After a short moment of Shock for Senegal, as a Keeper Alfred Gomis a passport back at the own goal pass into goal articulated, made Gueye, ernst set: knockout, perfectly in the scene, he scored with a powerful shot into the left corner for the game-winning 1:0 (70.). The provider to put just four minutes later on a goal, but the goal was tested once more and again due to Offside not recognised: for the First time in this tournament, the Video referee came in the quarter-finals are used. Shortly before the end of Benin defender Olivier Verdon saw because of an emergency brake to Gueye, the Red card (82.). At the end of the Senegal, was a number too large. In the penultimate round of Senegal plays either on the surprise team from Madagascar or Tunisia.
Nigeria with a Last Minute victory
Nigeria celebrates the semi-final against South Africa
In the second quarter-final Nigeria won with 2:1 (1:0) against South Africa. The decisive goal fell short before the final whistle, by William Troost-Ekong (90.).
In the event poor first half the first real Chance brought the first goal and Samuel Chukwueze scored Nigeria with 1:0 in Front (32.). The 20-year-old Talent from the Spanish first division club FC Villareal was in the penalty area, settled from the first shot don’t get discouraged and put the rebound into the bottom left corner. South Africa was finding it difficult to get into the game. Nigeria had a fresh, motivated, wants more.
Goalkeeper Williams just gets worse in addition
And the team of the German Coach showed Gernot tube in the second passage. In the 51. Minute could be the goalkeeper to steer Williams Ronwen the soulful free-kick from Oghenekaro Etebo just the bar.
A tricky scene, there were 74. Minute, as once again the video referee had to intervene: South Africa’s leading scorer Bongani Zungu stand on his head to the ball hit in the Offside, the Ball came from the back of Odion Ighalos, so by the opponent. The hits counted, the Bafana Bafana came to a clearing. In the end, the Nigerians cheered yet again. After a corner of the, as yet, strong support for South Africa, goalkeeper Williams faustete, in addition, and Troost-Ekong was able to effortlessly slide from a short distance to the 2:1-end. The Nigerians meet in the next round the winner between ivory coast and Algeria.