Skip to main content
U.S. Edition
Search
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FOOTBALL

Senegal hit back to defeat Guinea

story.senegal.jpg
Diop (left) celebrates his goal as Senegal secured a semifinal place

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt -- Senegal scored three goals in the last half-hour to beat surprise packages Guinea 3-2 in their African Nations Cup quarterfinal.

Guinea, who won all their group matches, produced a sparkling first 30 minutes and looked set to continue their run when Kaba Diawara pounced on a mistake by keeper Tony Sylva to open the scoring.

Senegal fought back and replied through Pape Bouba Diop in the 62nd minute and substitute Mamadou Niang with seven minutes to go.

In a dramatic finale, Henri Camara made it 3-1 with a breakaway goal in injury-time before Guinea reduced the arrears with a precise Pascal Feindouno free kick, his fourth goal of the competition.

Senegal, who qualified despite losing two of their three group games and were missing injured striker El Hadji Diouf, will now play either Egypt or DR Congo in Tuesday's semifinal.

Guinea dominated the opening half hour with Diawara at the centre of the action.

He twice headed wide in a five-minute spell, the second a free header from six meters, and had the ball in the net in the 19th minute, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

In the 26th minute, he pounced on Sylva's second mistake in successive games to open the scoring.

Lamine Diatta played the ball back from the centre circle but Sylva, whose mistake allowed Nigeria to score on Tuesday, failed to control the ball with his first touch.

His attempted clearance was charged down by Diawara, who walked the ball into the empty net.

Guinea had another chance in the 37th minute when Fode Mansare beat Ferdinand Coly to the ball and broke clear, only to shoot wide from just inside the penalty area.

Senegal began to find their rhythm just before the break and Diomansy Kamara burst through the Guinea back line before shooting wide. Guinea goalkeeper Naby Diarso then did well to stop a low shot on the turn from Bouba Diop.

Senegal were rewarded with an equaliser in the 62nd minute when Bouba Diop got in front of his marker to head home Kamara's cross from the edge of the area.

In a tense final half-hour, Senegal midfielder Amdy Faye shaved the post with a rasping 30-metre drive from a free kick and Kamara wasted an excellent chance with a poor final pass after a good move down the right.

A Senegal winner looked on the cards and it came with seven minutes to go.

Camara burst down the left, won a tussle with Dianbobo Balde, and laid the ball into the path of Niang, who fired the ball into the net from 15 meters.

Camara got on the scoresheet in the third minute of injury-time, scrambling the ball in after Niang's first two efforts were blocked.

Feindouno added the final twist but it was too late for Guinea.

Story Tools
Click Here to try 4 Free Trial Issues of Time! cover
Top Stories
Get up-to-the minute news from CNN
CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.
Top Stories
Get up-to-the minute news from CNN
CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.
 
 
 
 
CNN U.S.
CNN TV E-mail Services CNN Mobile CNNAvantGo Ad Info About Us Preferences
Search
© 2007 Cable News Network LP, LLLP.
A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. Site Map.
Offsite Icon External sites open in new window; not endorsed by CNN.com
Pipeline Icon Pay service with live and archived video. Learn more
Radio News Icon Download audio news  |  RSS Feed Add RSS headlines