Tunisia will now face tournament surprise package Madagascar in the quarter final in Al Salaam on Thursday after substitute keeper Farouk Ben Mustapha proved a gamble which eventually payed off when head coach Alaine Giresse brought him on for the penalties, as he saved Caleb Ekuban spot-kick.
Tunisia took the lead in the 72nd minute courtesy of a Taha Khenissi goal, before Substitute Rami Bedoui scored an own goal at the stroke of full time to change the face of the encounter,sendin the game into extra time after he dipped a header beyond his keeper Hassen Mouez as he deflected Mubarak Wakaso's freekick.
Ghana who had the best scoring chances felt as though they should have gone ahead before the break but had a late first half goal disallowed, after skipper Andre Ayew back-heeled the ball into the net off his brother Jordan’s cross, but the goal was disallowed for a handball in the build-up.
Ghana had another close chance quarter of an hour into the game when Kasim’s header from a Wakaso corner struck the upright while Andre Ayew had his effort from the rebound saved by the keeper.
Prior to the own goal, Tunisia came close to taking the lead when Khazri cut back a cross from the left for Khenissi to shoot home, but his effort was blocked by Nuhu Kasim.
In the 70th minute, Khazri swung in a corner from the right met by Khenissi again, this time the striker’s effort struck the crossbar.
But two minutes later, his industry paid off when he won the ball on the right before playing Wajdi Kechrida through with the right back’s low cross into the box being turned home beyond Richard Ofori by Khenissi.
With Tunisia’s late own goal, the game was forced into extra time and even then, it was a full contest despite the tired legs. Khazri forced off a great save from Ofori with a strong shot from the edge of the area.
Asamoah Gyan who was a late second half substitute brushed a header his way,with the ball going wide.
Before heading into the penalties with the Tunisian substitute goal keeper Farouk Ben Mustapha being the hero of the night saving a spot kick which gave North Africans the advantage.
No comments:
Post a Comment