Bony brace sends Algeria packing

The Desert Foxes started the better of the two sides, putting the opposition defence under pressure as Ivorian goalkeeper Gbohouo Sylvain graciously swallowed a tame shot which should have posed a greater threat.

Roma forward Gervinho, back after his two-match suspension, looked his lively self with a great run down the right on 18 minutes, yet his square ball failed to find a teammate as it flashed untouched across the face of goal.

Max Gradel was having an ever-increasing impact on the game as he then surged forward five minutes later, dragging his left-footed shot just wide of the Algerian upright.

Ivory Coast upped the ante and almost took the lead when a free-kick floated in found Serge Aurier whose header struck the post as Algeria frantically cleared their lines.

It was that man Gradel however who had a major hand in the Ivorian’s opening goal as he picked out striker Wilfried Bony with a pinpoint cross, as the new Manchester City signing headed home to hand Herve Renard’s men the lead just before the half-hour mark.

Ivory Coast looked the hungrier and more determined of the two sides, their goal giving them confidence as they moved the ball around, yet were unable to double their lead as Algeria slowly worked their way back into the game.

The Desert Foxes had two good chances to level matters just before the break, Saphir Taider with a fierce shot from range which Gbohouo comfortably gathered before Faouzi Ghoulam struck a free-kick just before the half-time whistle which went narrowly wide, as his side headed into the tunnel trailing 1-0.

Algeria looked a different side in the second period, and were level just five minutes in as El Arabi Soudani received a pass from the left to smash home the leveller and bring his side back into the game.

The goal injected a renewed energy into the Algerian attack as Sofiane Feghouli almost found his way through the Elephants’ defence, before Soudani brought out the best from gloveman Gbohouo Sylvain who produced a fine save to deny the Algerian from a set-piece.

Yet it was from a free-kick that the Ivorians regained the advantage, as skipper Yaya Toure whipped in a fine cross for his City teammate Bony to superbly head home for his second of the match, much to the joy of the sea of orange-clad supporters in the crowd.

The Desert Foxes pushed forward in the closing stages in search of the leveller, substitute Islam Simani coming close with a header before Faouzi Ghoulam produced another fine save from Ivorian gloveman Gbohouo.

With time running out and men pushed forward, gaps opened in the Algerian defence as the ever hard-working Gervinho, unmarked in the box, received a pass on a silver platter to slot home his side’s third in stoppage time, sealing a memorable 3-1 victory over Africa’s number one–ranked side.

The Elephants now meet Congo in their semi-final encounter, scheduled to take place on Wednesday evening. Kick Off.com