Algeria 3 - Benin 1

Algeria hosted Benin in Blida in the final match of the CAF Second Round Matchday Three.  Ten minutes in, Algeria had a dream start.  An Algeria foray up the left flank led to a rolled cross across the box, and the Fennec Foxes had their first goal via a simply instep putaway by Sofiane Feghouli.  Algeria had all the possession and chances in the first half of the period, but against the run of play Benin drew a free kick opportunity.  Rudy Gestede, in his first appearance for the Squirrels, took advantage of a poor wall to hit a waist-high drive that ate up the goalkeeper on its way in for the equalizer.  The first half ended at one-all.

Right on the hour mark, the Fennec Foxes had a breakaway chance started by Saphir Taider.  The ball was impeded well by a saving sliding tackle in the Benin defense, but the ball popped out to an onrushing Taider who finished and gave Algeria a 2-0 lead.  Benin goalkeeper Fabien Farnulle was sent off for a record card in minute 85 when he was deemed to have come out of his penalty area to make a sliding save with his hands that prevented a goalbound shot by El Arabi Soudani (pictured, white) from scoring.  Farnulle in reality only used his groin to block the ball, but the call was made against him nevertheless.  Backup goalkeeper Guillaume Bemenou was punished for his poor positioning in stoppage time when Islam Slimani expertly stuck out a boot to flick a high chip over Bemenou, who had needlessly evacuated his goal line.  Algeria take the win 3-1 and now site even with Mali atop the group.

Algeria 6 pts +5
Mali 6 pts +1
Benin 4 pts -1
Rwanda 1 pts -5

Goals
Algeria
Sofiane Feghouli 10
Saphir Taider 60
Islam Slimani 90+2

Benin
Rudy Gestede 26

Match Reports:
http://www.goal.com/en-za/news/4622/africa/2013/03/26/3856520/africa-world-cup-2014-qualifying-result-algeria-rout-benin

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZxoKAOz_PM

Full Match Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2hf1merrc0 (1st half)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAgYuCzI0U4 (2nd half)