|
– Senegal have dominated the opening period but the score remains 0-0. The conditions have not helped the game, which has been a little stop-start. Let's hope for better in the next 45 minutes! |
|
– Senegal are out of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, while minnows Equatorial Guinea are through to the quarterfinals! Amazing scenes in Bata! |
|
– - Senegal will face a test of character on Wednesday when they meet co-hosts Equatorial Guineas in their second 2012 Africa Cup of Nations Group A clash at Estadio de Bata. |
|
– The Senegalese were roundly beaten 2-1 by Zambia in their opener on Saturday, a surprise result given that they came into this tournament as among the pre-tournament favourites. |
|
– But they now face the ignominy of an early exit unless they can get a positive result against the Equatorial Guineans, who defeated Libya in their opener 1-0. |
|
– On paper, it is a miss-match, but when you factor in the vociferous home support and the pressure that has started to come to bear on the Senegalese, this suddenly looks anything but a foregone conclusion. |
|
1’ – We are under way in a wet Bata! |
|
3’ – The pitch looks a lot better than it did in the early game, though it will still be hard to play on. |
|
5’ – Senegal are looking the more composed side in the opening minutes, as you might expect. They are starting to use their width too. |
|
8’ – So the equation is quite simple for Equatorial Guinea. Win and they are through to the quarterfinals. Easier said than done, of course ... |
 |
11’ – Iban Iyanga (Randy) (Equatorial Guinea) is cautioned. |
|
12’ – Iyanga goes in the book for a late challenge on Sane. |
|
13’ – Dia breaks through and goes down the in the box. Senegal want a penalty, E Guinea say it is only a corner and the referee gives a goal-kick. Go figure! |
|
14’ – Corner to E Guinea, but it is cleared. |
|
16’ – So close for Cisse! He chests the ball and hits a lob volley in one movement that Danilo just puts over the crossbar for a corner. |
|
19’ – Ba should have done better as the inviting cross comes over from the left, but he gets the faintest of heads to it when a more committed effort might have seen him open the scoring. |
|
21’ – Great ball for Cisse, but he cannot control the pass and another chance goes begging. he would have been through on goal there. |
|
22’ – Crickey, how many chances do they want. This time it is Ba who just has to hit the target with the goal at his mercy, but puts his shot wide. Could be 4-0. |
|
26’ – Free-kick to Senegal and a chance to cross into the box. Dia on the right has looked superb tonight ... another set-piece as it goes for a corner. |
|
27’ – Corner is cleared, but Equatorial Guinea just cannot get out of their half. One-way traffic. |
|
31’ – Senegal continue knocking on the door. E Guinea really are a poor team, they would never reach a Nations Cup finals were it not for their status as co-hosts. Libya must be kicking themselves. |
|
34’ – Senegal will perhaps be starting to feel a bit anxious. They have been dominant but have not yet found the breakthrough. Is it to be one of those nights? |
|
37’ – The chances have dried up a bit for Senegal in the last 10 minutes. Neither keeper has had a save to make. |
|
40’ – E Guinea break and have a three-on-four, but the pass is lose. The midfield is getting stretched already, Senegal's superior fitness should tell in the second period. |
| |
41’ – Danilo (EG) (Equatorial Guinea) is cautioned. |
|
43’ – Danilo is booked for picking up a back-pass and Senegal have a free-kick inside the box! |
|
44’ – N'Doye's shot from the set-piece is blocked and E Guinea clear. |
|
45’ – Corner for E Guinea just before the break ... Coundoul gathers. |
|
45 + 1’ – We will have one minute of injury-time. |
 |
45 + 1’ – The referee brings the first half to an end. |
|
46’ – We are under way in the second half! No changes at the break ... |
|
48’ – Early shot on goal for E Guinea, but it is comfortable for Coundoul. At the other end, Cisse forces a save from Danilo. |
|
50’ – Home fans are angry after Fidjeu was given as offside when clean through. He was. |
|
52’ – N'Doye has a free header from the corner, but he puts it wide. Senegal really have to make the goalkeeper work more. |
|
54’ – Corner for E Guinea that is easily cleared. The home side have been a bit better this half. |
|
56’ – Balboa shoots just wide for E Guinea. They are having their best spell of the game. |
|
57’ – Great chance E Guinea! Balboa gets behind the defence, but his square ball is just cut out before it reaches Fidjeu. |
 |
58’ – Senegal Substitution: Pape Latyr N'Diaye replaces Demba Ba |
 |
62’ – Iban Iyanga (Randy) (Equatorial Guinea) scores! |
|
62’ – Well, well, isn't football a funny game! E Guinea have the lead through Randy with a well-taken goal. As it stands, the co-hosts are in the quarterfinals and Senegal are going out! |
|
65’ – The crowd have gone wild and they deserve to celebrate, their side is beating the odds! |
| |
66’ – Senegal Substitution: Moussa Sow replaces Mohamed Diame |
|
68’ – E Guinea launch a free-kick into the Senegal area, but the ball is cleared. Senegal, for their part, look a little short of ideas. |
|
71’ – It is just not happening for Senegal. Dia miss-controls in the area when well-placed. |
|
73’ – Senegal really should be level, between Cisse and Sow they contrive to miss a great chance, with the ball going out for a corner. |
| |
73’ – Senegal Substitution: Mamadou Niang replaces Issiar Dia |
|
75’ – Niang glances a header just wide. Senegal are knocking on the door ... |
|
77’ – Senegal forwards need to start shooting, they seem obsessed with playing a final ball when the call should be, 'SHOOT!'. |
|
78’ – Niang does shoot but it is straight at the keeper. |
| |
80’ – Equatorial Guinea Substitution: Daniel Ekedo replaces Thierry Fidjeu |
|
83’ – Sow and Niang combine, but the latter's shot is blocked for a corner. Sow has a header at the back post from the set-piece which is easily saved. |
|
87’ – The ball is the wrong end of the pitch as far as Senegal are concerned. They look a spent force and it appears their 2012 campaign will end in massive disappointment. |
| |
89’ – Daniel Ekedo (Equatorial Guinea) is cautioned. |
| |
90’ – Moussa Sow (Senegal) scores! |
|
90’ – At last the goal comes for Senegal! It had a hint of offside about it too, but Niang's shot fizzed through a sea of bodies and fell to Sow, who finished into the roof of the net. |
|
90 + 1’ – We will have five minutes of injury-time. |
|
90 + 3’ – Balboa had a great chance to win it for E Guinea but put his shot wide with just the keeper to beat! |
| |
90 + 4’ – David Alvarez (Equatorial Guinea) scores! |
|
90 + 4’ – What a goal! Alvarez blasts the ball home from 30-yards to surely win the game for E Guinea and send Senegal crashing out! |
| |
90 + 5’ – David Alvarez (Equatorial Guinea) is cautioned. |
 |
90 + 6’ – Lawrence Doe (Equatorial Guinea) is sent off. |
|
90 + 6’ – Not sure what happened there, but Doe gets a straight red in the aftermath of that goal. Something he said? Something he did? Not sure. |
 |
90 + 6’ – The referee blows the whistle for Full Time. |
| {icon} |
{image-with-link}{comment} |
{message}