[ 2015-01-25 ]

Cote d'Ivoire 1-1 Mali: Gradel grabs vital late equaliser
Max Gradel scored what could be a priceless
equaliser as Cote d'Ivoire drew 1-1 with Mali in
Saturday's Africa Cup of Nations encounter.

Herve Renard's side only earned a 1-1 draw with
Guinea in their opening match courtesy of Seydou
Doumbia's 72nd-minute strike, and looked set to
suffer a huge setback on Saturday as, despite
dominating possession, they struggled to find a
response to Bakary Sako's early opener.

However, substitute Max Gradel fired home with
three minutes remaining following a cutback from
Serge Aurier, providing a welcome boost to Cote
d'Ivoire's qualification hopes.

Sako fired Mali ahead after just seven minutes
with a superb half-volley, although Cote d'Ivoire
- many people's tip to win the tournament -
appeared unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty
prior to the interval when Molla Wague upended
Wilfried Bony in the area.

Mali, who lost goalkeeper Soumbeila Diakite to
injury in the second half, held out thereafter
against wave after wave of pressure, only to be
found wanting as Gradel finally broke their
resistance.

Both teams will enter the final round of group
matches with two points from as many games.

Siaka Tiene, Ismael Diomande and Doumbia were all
brought into a Cote d'Ivoire side missing the
suspended Gervinho.

Yet it was an unchanged Mali who seized the
initiative early on, courtesy of a fine goal from
Sako.

Sambou Yatabare was given time to deliver a cross
from the right, which Sako met with a sweetly
timed half-volley back across goal that left
Sylvain Gbohouo with no chance.

A lack of quality in the final third hampered Cote
d'Ivoire as they sought to get back on level
terms, with Aurier particularly wasteful as he
failed to pick out a team-mate after getting to
the byline.

However, Mali appeared extremely fortunate not to
concede a penalty in the 33rd minute when Wague
brought down Bony with his head as he fell to the
ground, after the striker had pulled off a nutmeg
with a dazzling piece of footwork.

Kolo Toure saw a powerful header superbly parried
on to the crossbar by Diakite from the corner that
followed as Mali continued to ride their luck,
while Doumbia volleyed wide after being
incorrectly flagged offside.

Diomande was then hauled off six minutes before
the interval, replaced by Gradel, but the change
did little to bring about an immediate improvement
for Cote d'Ivoire.

As Mali dropped increasingly deep in the second
half, Bony twice missed the target with headers.

The injured Diakite was then forced off with an
apparent thigh injury, yet Mali continued to hold
firm and could have snatched a second when Gbohouo
made a mess of a cross only to be rescued by
Wilfried Kanon's clearance.

Just when it seemed as though Mali had done enough
to secure three points, Gradel had the final say,
firing home a low shot following fine work from
Yaya Toure and Aurier.

Source - Goal.com

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