3rd Quarter Final: DR Congo 1-2 Ghana
Ghana Black Stars defeated a physical Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1 in a quarter final tie played in the forested northern Gabon town of Oyem.
The Ayew brothers, Jordan Pierre Ayew and Andre Ayew each scored in the second half to see Ghana Black Stars through to the semifinals
Unlike the soggy state of Stade D’Oyem during the last group stage game between Uganda and Mali, this time round the ground was playable.
After the opening 45 minutes, the encounter was goalless despite the half chances both sides created.
Jordan lit up the match with a fabulous strike from 25 yards past a diving Ley Matampi two minutes after the hour mark.
Panathinaikos midfielder Paul Jose Mpoku quickly brought the game even with a similar strike three minutes later.
But as the game looked destined for a stalemate in normal time, Christian Atsu teased and twisted Lomalisa Mutambala with pace and trickery as he won a penalty 13 minutes from full time.
Andre Ayew composed himself and made no mistake from 12 yards.
It was his second goal in the tournament after he also scored another penalty against Uganda at Port Gentil during Ghana’s Group D opener.
Earlier, both countries showed the urge to create chances from open play with DR Congo having a lion’s share of opportunities.
Although Ghana got the most corners in the half (three to DR Congo’s two), the Congolese got the best chances at goal.
Andre Ayew, Ghana’s skipper of the day taking over from the injured Gyan Asamoah earned the Black Stars the game’s first corner kick as early as the second minute when his shot at goal was blocked.
Hull City’s Mbokani Bezua posed lots of questions to the Ghana defence. He rounded off the goalie Brimah but his shot hit the lower post on 6 minutes.
On the quarter hour mark, Remi Mulumba brought down Jordan Ayew as he became the first and only player booked by the referee, Bernard Camille from Syehelles in the first half.
In the 26th minute, Mbokani set up Junior Kalonji who shot over the bar.
Ten minutes later, it was Mbokani again but he shot hurriedly off the weaker left foot and the effort sailed wide of Brimah’s goal posts.
As the first half neared the end, a one-two wall pass from Mbokani to Junior was too heavy a first touch from the latter as the ball rolled out for a goal kick for Ghana.
Upon restart, Mubarak Wakaso had a teasing free-kick that bounced in front of Matampi Ley before it was cleared.
Jordan Ayew had a penalty appeal turned down seven minutes into the second stanza and moments later, Partey had a shot at goal but Mutampi was alert to thwart the threat.
In the 58th minute, Ghana’s midfielder, Wakaso was booked for a malicious foul in the middle of the pack and a minute later, DR Congo left back Lomalisa Mutambala fouled Acquah to earn himself a booking as the game tempo grew.
Referee Camille’s generosity to dish-out the yellow cards continued when he cautioned Tisserand Marcel Jany of DR Congo a minute after the hour mark.
The opening goal of the game arrived in the 62nd minute – thanks to Jordan Pierre Ayew’s stunning shot with the inside of the right boot past Matampi for the opener that sent the Ghana fans into ecstasy.
The joy was however short lived when Jose Paul Mpoku almost scored in a similar fashion three minutes later to evoke the famous Congolese celebration.
One-all the score line read after 66 minutes.
Daniel Amartey got booked with 17 minutes left on the clock for fouling Mpoku.
The defining moment of the game then came in the 77th minute. Atsu beat Lomalisa for pace and the left back wrestled down the Newcastle winger.
The referee had no other option than pointing to the penalty spot as a reprimand with no card shown to Lomalisa.
Ayew drove the ball to the left of Matampi for the second goal and surely the winner.
Nine minutes to time, DR Congo head coach Ibenge made a double change when he introduced Loteteka Bokila and Cedric Bakambu for the weary but effective legs of Ndombe and Paul Jose Mpoku respectively.
Ghana defended gallantly and held onto the famous victory to book a last four berth en-route securing a record 5th title, having previously won the tournament in 1962, 1964, 1978 and 1982.
This is the 14th time that the Black Stars are reaching the semi-finals in the 21 appearances at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Team Line ups:
DR Congo XI: Ley Matampi (G.K), Issama Mpeko Djos, Marcel Jany Tisserand, Junior Kalonji, Paul Jose Mpoku, Dieudonne Mbokani Bezua (Captain), Lomalisa Mutambala, Remi Mulumba, Merveille Bokadi Bope, Ndombe, Firmin Mubele Ndombe, Chancel Mbemba
Changes:
81’ Loteteka Bokila replaced
81’ Cedric Bakambu replaced Paul Jose Mpoku
Subs: Fabrice Nsakala Mayele, Jordan Ikoko, Yousuf Mulumbu, Neeskens Kebano, Jordan Rolly Botaka, Jonathan Bolingi Mpangi, Gabriel Zakuani, Mulopo Kudimbana (G.K), Cedric Bakambu, Loteteka Bokila, Jacques Maghoma, Joel Kiassumbua (G.K)
Head Coach: Jean Florent Ikwange Ibenge (DR Congo)
Ghana XI: Razak Brimah (G.K), Thomas Teye Partey, Afriyiw Acquah, Christian Astu Twasam Jordan Pierre Ayew, Andre Ayew (Captain), Mubarak Wakaso, Daniel Amartey, John Boye, Frank Opoku Acheampong Harrison Afful
Subs: Andrew Kyere Yiadom (G.K), Asamaoh Gyan, Jonathan Mensah, Emmanuel Badu Agyeman, Richard Ofori, Ebenezar Assifuah, Bernard Tekpetey, Ebenezar Ofori, Abdual Fatawu Dauda, Abdul Rahman Baba (Absent), Edwin Gyimah, Samuel Tetteh
Head coach: Abraham Grant (Israel)
Match Officials:
Center Referee: Bernard Camille (Seychelles)
1st Assistant Referee: Abdelhak Etchiali (Algeria)
2nd Assistant Referee: Mohammed Ibrahim (Sudan)
4th Official: Mehdi Abid Charef (Algeria)
Commissioner: Amadeo Nguema Ondo Bindang (Equatorial Guinea)
General Coordinator: Russell Paul (South Africa)
