Saturday, September 7, 2013

Morocco 1 - Cote d'Ivoire 1; Gambia 2 - Tanzania 0

Gambia closed their qualifying campaign at home in Bakau against Tanzania.  Mustapha Jarjue scored with the half coming to a close to give Gambia a 1-0 lead at the break.

Jarjue scored his second of the day six minutes after the restart to double the Gambian lead.  The home side coasted to the finish line, and Gambia win 2-0.

Morocco made the trip south to Abidjan to square off against Cote d'Ivoire in the final Group C match.  Abdelaziz Barrada had a volleyed shot attempt for Morocco that Cote d'Ivoire goalkeeper Boubacar Barry was able to save.  Didier Drogba (pictured, orange) had a shot cleared off the line by the Moroccan defense. Gervinho and Drogba were a dangerous pair up front for the Elephants, but no goals were found in the opening stanza.

A defensive lapse cost the Ivoirians early in the second half.  Omar El Kaddouri played a through ball straight up the middle of the pitch for Youssef El Arabi, who scored from the half circle as Barry was retreating toward his line.  With less than ten minutes to go, Ya Konan struck a cross the El Kaddouri handled inside the Moroccan penalty area.  Cote d'Ivoire converted their penalty kick to tie the game.  The match ends in a 1-1 draw.

Goals
Gambia
Mustapha Jarjue 45, 51

Morocco
Youssef El Arabi 53

Cote d'Ivoire
Didier Drogba 83 PK

Match Reports:
http://us.soccerway.com/news/2013/September/07/fifa-world-cup-qualifying-ivory-coast-1-morocco-1/

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcScxb4DzoI (Morocco v. Cote d'Ivoire)

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