Algeria shock Ivory Coast to advance to semi-finals

The Ivory Coast choke once again on the big stage as they let slip a 2-1 lead with a minute to go at the African Cup of Nations.

The adage of playing to the final whistle has never been highlighted so dramatically as Algeria comeback from the dead to shock the Ivory Coast. The Elephants were minutes away from securing their place in the semi-final of the African Cup of Nations when Kadar Keita's bullet of a finish flew past Faouzi Chaouchi, the Algerian goalkeeper, in the 89th minute. In a dramatic turnaround, Majid Bougherra levelled immediately after the restart for Algeria with a header to send the quarter-final into extra-time. Still reeling from the shock comeback, Ivory Coast were hit with another sucker-punch two minutes after the restart as Hameur Bouazza was left unmarked to head the eventual winner from a whipped cross on the left by Karim Ziani. Keita's goal, drilled powerfully with his left foot, was worthy of a winner in a cup final. The Ivorians certainly celebrated like it was after Karim Matmour on 40 minutes cancelled out Salomon Kalou's fourth minute opener. And that is where they came undone in a frantic finish to normal time. As Keita, Didier Drogba and company started making plans for a potential showdown with either Cameroon or Egypt later this week, Algeria were allowed to send the game into extra time. A cross from the left was met by the head of Bougherra on the back post two minutes later according to the clock, but in reality the very next attacking move with the ball in play. The Ivorians had shaded the match throughout, they had the majority of the ball and the better chances. Whether there rush of blood at the back was down to relief that they finally got the better of the excellent Chaouchi or a complete lack of concentration, they never should have lost this match. As the match entered the extra 30 minutes, Algeria were buoyed and started extra-time with a tempo unseen in the previous 90 minutes. The ball made its way out to Ziani on the left flank. He managed to cut his man and a cross with his right foot curled to the substitute Bouazza who headed freely past Boubacar Barry. The Ivorians pressed on for a desperate equaliser, but were quickly running out of ideas, steam and most of all time as Algeria remained defiant and happy to defend the one goal advantage. The stage was set for Manchester City's Kolo Toure to score the equaliser in the final minute. He did in fact, but that was remarkably chalked off for offside. Replays showed that it was a terrible decision by the match officials and Ivory Coast are right to feel aggrieved, but it should not have came to that in the first place. [e-mail]