- AFCON 2019 (Round of 16)
- Madagascar 2 (4) – 2 (2) DR Congo
Madagascar eliminated DR Congo 4-2 in a tense penalty shoot-out to progress to the quarterfinals of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations on their first time of asking.
Normal time of this round of 16 cracker had ended two goals apiece.
Congo’s star players Marcel Tosserand and Yannick Bolasie struck their penalties over the bar as Madagascar scored though Ibrahim Samuel Amada, Romain Metanire, Thomas Fontaine and Jerome Mombris.
The Leopards’ two penalties were scored by Cedric Bakambu and Paul Jose Mpoku.
Congo skipper Chancel Mbemba scored a thumping header a minute to full time taking the scores to 2-2 after 90 minutes and the added 30 minutes.
Bakambu had cancelled out Amada’s early goal before skipper Faneva Andriatsima scored their second 14 minutes from fulltime.
Madagascar started the game with the confidence and arrogance on the field that had seen them finish the group phases top of Group B ahead of the seasoned Nigeria and Guinea.
Anicent Andrianantenaina was pulling the strings in midfield dictating the tempo of the game.
For their good start, they were rewarded in the eighth minute of the game when Amada struck a beauty from the edge of the box after being set up by Lalaina Nomenjanahary.
Just before that, the Islanders had threatened with Carolus Andriamahitsinoro’s freekick being spilt by Congolese keeper Ley Matampi and was only saved by the referee’s whistle which ruled skipper Faneva to have fouled him as he jumped on the rebound.
But Congo gradually grew into the game, definitely jolted into action after going down. They got into level terms after 20 minutes, punishing Madagascar for some sloppy loss of possession on the left.
Ngonda Muzinga picked the ball on the left, drove forward and curled in a beautiful cross which Bakambu ably nodded home.
DR Congo were almost getting into the lead on the half-hour mark, but Chancel Mbemba skied his volley from close range after Jacques Magoma had floated in a cross from the left.
In the second half, Congo started off with making changes, Meshack Elia coming on for Wilfried Moke as coach Florent Ibenge sought to inject some pace in attack.
It was Madagascar though who came close to scoring when Jerome Mombris drifted in from his left back role and sliced a shot from the edge which the keeper saved.
On the other end, Pascal Razakanantenaina made a massive intervention stopping the ball a yard from the line after Bakambu had gone round the keeper to tap home.
The hard fighting Madagascar kept their chase on and scored their second after 76 through their skipper who dove in at the back post to head in a cross from Romain Metanire after Congo lost the ball cheaply on the right.
But, Congo kept their composure and concentration, earning an equalizer in the 89th minute through Mbemba’s thumping header at the back post off an Elia corner to send the game into extra time.
In extra time, it was Congo who had the clearest opportunities to score, first Muzinga’s shot from the edge of the box being deflected over for a corner while minutes later, Mbemba came close to his second but his header off another Elia corner was well saved by Madagascar keeper Melvin Adrien.
With four minutes left, Bolasie came inches close but his curling shot from the right went just wide off target.
Martin Rakotoarimalala and the experienced Jeremy Morel were brought in by Madagascar to add some steep into the tiring legs and they did just enough to see the game off to penalties.
In the shootout Amada, Metanire, Mombris and Fontaine scored for Madagascar, while Marcel Tisserancd and Yannick Bolasie missed for DR Congo.
Nicolas Dupuis, Madagascar Head Coach
It is a great day for us. We kept believing and we got a just reward at the end of the game. It was a very tough match today against an experienced Congo side. We gave our best and seeing us continue making history is a beautiful thing. Hope we can continue in this way
We are a team which plays like a family. We fight together and we win together. It was tough especially after Congo equalized late. But we saw our fans and the President of Madagascar in the crown and we had to do something. I am happy we are through. This is history and we cannot hide the excitement.
Madagascar midfielder Anicet Andrianantenaina (man of the match)
I want to congratulate Madagascar for going through. They are a good team and have showed this throughout the competition. Today, we did our best but our best was not good enough. We lost to a better team and I wish them all the best.
DR Congo coach Florent Ibenge
*Additional information by Cafonline.com