Wednesday 25 January 2012

2012 ACN: Group A Game Two

The day's fixtures were delayed due to a freak storm that caused mass water-logging in some areas of the pitch. If it was a league match, the first match between Libya and Zambia would have been called off as the ball wouldn't roll in these boggy patches. But the poor conditions caused the most goals so far in a game and Ahmed Osman Sadd put Libya ahead after just five minutes. Bright young talent, Emmanuel Mayuka, scored his second of the tournament to equalise just before the half-hour mark. The ground-staff decided that a tractor would help get rid of the remaining water, but instead it tore the pitch up and left tyre marks within the patches. Again it didn't stop Libya taking an early lead, Osman Sadd again scored to make it 2-1 just two minutes into the second half. But Zambia equalised seven minutes later when an overhead kicked cross was tapped home by Christopher Katongo. This leaves Zambia on four points from two games with Libya on one.

The conditions of the pitch had improved for the second game between Equatorial Guinea and Senegal. The game was as dramatic as they come as one of the biggest shocks in the history of world football took place. Senegal are rated 110 places higher than the co-hosts but Jorge Randy put Equatorial Guinea ahead on 62 minutes. Senegal's defending had improved since the defeat to Zambia but their attacking hadn't. Substitute Moussa Sow was able to level with two minutes remaining to keep Senegal in the tournament. With five minutes of extra time remaining and Senegal the side looking to score again, no-one saw David Kily's shock winner with a 25-yard blast into the top corner. The result sees third favourites Senegal dumped out of the tournament and the first time entrants, Equatorial Guinea, have made it into the quarter finals.

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