Tunisia victory puts Algeria on the brink
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Updated 19/01/2017 at 22:11 GMT
Africa Cup of Nations, Group B, Stade de Franceville – Algeria 1 (Hanni 90) Tunisia 2 (Mandi 50’ og, Sliti 66’ pen)
Tunisia's players celebrate after scoring a goal during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group B football match between Algeria and Tunisia in Franceville on January 19, 2017
Image credit: AFP
Tunisia gave themselves hope of making the knockout phase of the Africa Cup of Nations after upsetting Algeria 2-1 victory and edging their North African rivals close to elimination.
A fortuitous Aissa Mandi own goal gave Tunisia the lead just after the break before a calamitous Faouzi Ghoulam back header and subsequent foul on Wahbi Khazri allowed Naim Sliti to extend the lead from the spot.
Substitute Sofiane Hanni gave Algeria a late lifeline but it was not enough to deny Tunisia a victory that leaves the sides with very differing prospects of advancing.
The result of Senegal v Zimbabwe could seal Algeria’s fate, with Tunisia’s final match against Zimbabwe, and Algeria (on only one point) to play Senegal in their last group game.
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Highlights as Mahrez's Algeria suffer defeat to Tunisia
TALKING POINT
A tale of two penalties. Algeria could easily have been awarded an earlier penalty when Abdennour appeared to foul Slimani in the box but Ghoulam’s sloppy play was the deciding factor.
PLAYER RATINGS
Algeria: Asselah 6, Mandi 6, Ghoulam 5, Bensebaini 6, Meftah 6, Bentaleb 6, Brahimi 7, Guedioura 5, Ghezzal 6, Mahrez 6, Slimani 7. SUBS: Abeid 6, Bounedjah 6, Hanni 7.
Tunisia: Mathlouthi 7, Ben Youssef 6, Abdennour 6, Maaloul 6, Naguez 6, Khazri 8, Sassi 6, Ben Amor 6, Sliti 7, Msakni 7, Akaichi 7. SUBS: Jridi 6, Khinisi 6, Yacoubi 6.
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Tunisia celebrate
Image credit: AFP
KEY MOMENTS
6’ - SAVE! It’s Brahimi who hits it and it’s tipped over by Mathlouthi. Mahrez with the subsequent corner and almost turned in by Mandi but for a terrific save from Mathlouthi.
21’ – TUNISIA CLOSE! Ben Youssef flicks it across goal on the near post direct from the corner and Akaichi can’t quite turn it in at the far post!
50’ - GOAL! ALGERIA 0-1 TUNISIA! And it’s deflected in for an own goal from Bensebaini from Msakni’s cross.
58’ – PENALTY SHOUT! Abdennour looks to have pulled down Slimani ion the box. That could have been a penalty.
66’ - GOAL! ALGERIA 0-2 TUNISIA! Sliti sends Asselah the wrong way to put Tunisia further ahead after Ghoulam fouls Khazri in the box.
KEY STATS
- Algeria have failed to keep a clean sheet in 11 of their last 12 AFCON matches and have only claimed victories in two of their last 10 games in the competition (D2 L6)
- Tunisia, however, have managed only one clean sheet across their last 14 AFCON matches and have recorded only one win in their most recent six attempts (L3 D3).
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