In what figured to be the most difficult of the six Group C fixtures for Les Elephants, Cote d'Ivoire paid Morocco a visit in Marrakech. Saka Tiene (pictured, green #17) put in a through ball from beyond midfielder to a streaking Salomon Kalou who chipped the oncoming goalkeeper from outside the box to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Boubacar Barry was his usual stellar self in goal for Les Elephants, but he had to face a penalty kick after a handball in the box against Cote d'Ivoire. The kick was converted, so the match went to the break tied at 1-1.
The play was open on both ends of the field in the second period. It took until the hour mark for the stalemate to be broken, though. A Gervinho corner found Didier Drogba, who headed ahead to Kolo Toure, who dropped to his knee as he tucked his header away for a 2-1 lead. Barry made a nice save on a shot from four yards to maintain the lead. With one minute to go in the match, Yassine Salhi chipped a ball that beat Les Elephants' defense over the top on its way toward Hamza Abourazzouk, who smartly snapped a header into the side netting for the equalizer. Morocco and Cote d'Ivoire tie 2-2.
Cote d'Ivoire 4 pts +2
Morocco 2 pts 0
Gambia 1 pts 0
Tanzania 0 pts -2
Goals
Cote d'Ivoire
Salomon Kalou 8
Kolo Toure 60
Morocco
Houssine Kharja 41 PK
Hamza Abourazzouk 89
Match Reports:
http://www.goal.com/en/match/77970/morocco-vs-cote-divoire/report
Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJHitc3Rfc0&feature=related
Full Match Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEfb4yLuhxY&feature=related (1st half)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKwWaCBXLHU&feature=related (2nd half)
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