| Goals | Goals |
|---|---|
| 10. Alain Traore (55’) | 17. Mateus (45 + 2’) |
| 9. Manucho (69’) |
Manucho cracker hands Angola win
Mateus gave Angola a first half lead before Alain Traore levelled with a stunning free kick ten minutes into the second half.
But Burkina Faso skipper Moumouni Dagana will feel that he should have done better with his headed attempt in the 82nd minute, which could easily have secured a draw. He also came close after a good turn in the box in the final five minutes.
The match was riddled with fouls and the best way to sum up the first half is that it was a scrappy affair.
Every time Jonathan Pitroipa got the ball wide on the left for Burkina Faso, he looked like he would create something.
Quick, well balanced and tricky on the ball, Pitroipa showed from the start that he is not scared to have a go at defenders.
He won a foul after just 13 minutes and began asking the right questions of the Angolans. He went down, looking for a penalty on the half hour mark, but the referee was having none of it.
In the 32nd minute Gilberto’s searching free kick evaded everybody and nearly found teammate Flavio, who just couldn’t get a touch to it. Had he done so, he would have deflected the ball past Burkina Faso goalkeeper Diakite.
In the last ten minutes of the first half, Burkina Faso began to find their confidence and Alain Traore and Pitroipa began to combine well.
Just two minutes into the second half and Angola went one nil up through Mateus.
Burkina Faso failed to clear a scramble inside the danger area and Mateus fetched the ball out wide on the right, ran at his man and beat him, before curling in a spectacular finish low at the far post.
But Burkina Faso were back in it after 56 minutes when Alain Traore slotted home an excellent left footed free kick. He beat the wall and left Carlos Fernandes standing still.
Then Manucho struck in the 69th minute with a thunderous effort that squeezed inside the post after beating a man and hitting his shot while slipping off balance.
It must be said though, that Burkina Faso should never have given the ball away like they did.
Dagano came close on two occasions inside the final ten minutes.
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