Algeria’s ahead #27 Adil Boulbina (C) celebrates scoring his group’s first aim. Picture: AFP
RABAT:
A thunderous strike by substitute Adil Boulbina deep in additional time settled a tense encounter as Algeria beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 of their Africa Cup of Nations last-16 tie on Tuesday.
The sport on the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat was edging in the direction of a penalty shoot-out when Boulbina, a ahead who performs membership soccer in Qatar, was launched on the left within the 119th minute and superior into the realm earlier than unleashing a vicious strike into the web.
The second of magic sparked wild celebrations inside the floor, with the vast majority of the 18,837 followers in attendance backing Algeria.
The 2019 champions, who gained all their group video games, are wanting like critical contenders to say a 3rd continental title however now face an interesting quarter-final showdown with Victor Osimhen’s Nigeria in Marrakesh on Saturday.
Boulbina was an unlikely hero, making simply his second cameo look off the bench on the event having been included within the squad after that includes for the Algerian group on the latest Arab Cup in Qatar.
“I’ve all the time dreamed of taking part in for the nationwide group. It’s the ambition of each Algerian to play for his or her nation and do effectively,” mentioned Boulbina, who was in tears on the finish.
“I had my likelihood and scored and an important factor is that we gained and certified for the subsequent spherical.”
The end result is a painful one for the Congolese, who got here into the AFCON with huge ambitions and had been hoping to arrange one other conflict with Nigeria having defeated the Tremendous Eagles on penalties in a World Cup qualifying play-off in November.
The Leopards will now a minimum of be capable to console themselves with the very fact they’ve an intercontinental play-off to return in March, the place a win towards both New Caledonia or Jamaica will see them qualify for a primary World Cup since 1974.
“We’re clearly upset with the result. I assumed it was a top-level sport between two actually good sides,” mentioned DR Congo coach Sebastien Desabre.
“The gamers gave every little thing. We fought to the tip however sadly it was not sufficient.”
Tremendous sub
Algeria, having already assured a berth on the finals in North America, stay centered for now on going all the way in which in Morocco.
The match itself, between two of the continent’s main nations, had the makings of the tie of the spherical however by no means fairly lived as much as its billing.
There was a scarcity of high quality within the remaining third from either side regardless of all of the attacking expertise on the pitch, with neither captain Riyad Mahrez nor the thrilling Ibrahim Maza lasting 90 minutes for Vladimir Petkovic’s Algerian group.
Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe headed simply broad from a nook for DR Congo and Maza fired narrowly previous the aim from the sting of the field on the different finish within the first half.
An Edo Kayembe shot fizzed in from vary that pressured a very good save from Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane was the closest both group got here within the second half because the match drifted to additional time.
Algeria had been the extra persistently threatening group although, and started to show the screw within the additional half-hour, with Congolese goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi saving effectively from Fares Chaibi and Baghdad Bounedjah in fast succession within the 111th minute.
However a shoot-out appeared inevitable till Ramiz Zerrouki and Boulbina, who each emerged from the bench collectively within the second half of additional time, mixed for the profitable aim.
Zerrouki launched Boulbina with a terrific move in behind, and the 22-year-old Al-Duhail participant did the remainder.
