| Goals | Goals |
|---|
Morocco seal late draw
Morocco substitute Hamza Abdourazzouk
scored a dramatic equaliser one minute from time to save Morocco from home
defeat in a 2-2 draw with top-ranked Ivory Coast in their World Cup qualifer in
Marrakech on Saturday.
A delicate chip from Salomon Kalou and a
stooping header by Kolo Toure looked set to ensure a second victory for the
Ivorians in Group C and a handy step towards ensuring progress to the next
stage of the African qualifiers for the 2014 finals in Brazil.
But a strong header Abdourazzouk rescued
home hopes and possibly saved the job of coach Eric Gerets as Morocco fought back
to share the spoils from the striker
Kalou chipped the Ivorians into an eighth
minute lead, outsprinting the defence to get first to the end of a fine through
ball from Siaka Tiene.
Captain Houcine Kharja equalised for
Morocco four minutes before the break from the penalty spot but Toure restored
the lead with a close in header on the hour mark.
It was Toure’s fourth goal for his country
as he celebrated his 98th appearance for the Elephants.
Talismanic captain Didier Drogba, who
scored last week as the Ivorians opened their qualifying campaign with a 2-0
home win over Tanzania, was a towering presence on attack but not involved in
any of the night’s decisive actions and eventually taken off with six minutes
left.
Morocco fielded a team much changed from
their disappointing exploits at the African Nations Cup earlier this year,
where they were one of the pre-tournament favourites but went home after the
first round.
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